class civ foundation stories

• The Naming of Athens:

  • King Cecrops founded a city in Attica and needed a name
  • Athena and Poseidon both came to lay their patronage on the city
  • Poseidon struck the Acropolis with a trident and offered salt spring water
  • Athena planted an olive tree
  • Zeus and Cecrops judged, Athena's gift was deemed more useful, hence the name 'Athens'
• The Erechtheion:

  • Temple on the Acropolis dedicated to Athena, Poseidon, and legendary King of Athens (Erechtheus)
  • Contains a well where Poseidon struck with his trident, a small garden with the olive tree Athena planted, and tombs of King Cecrops and Erechtheus
• The Adventures of Theseus:

  • Theseus, King of Athens, united Attica and instituted great reforms
• Theseus' Birth:

  • Aegeus, King of Athens, consulted an oracle for an heir
  • Pittheus interpreted the riddle and helped Aegeus conceive a son with his daughter Aethra, Theseus
  • Theseus had both godly and mortal characteristics due to Poseidon's involvement
  • Theseus proved his worthiness by retrieving Aegeus' sandals and sword from under a rock
• Theseus' Labours:

  • Theseus completed various labours including defeating bandits, a fierce pig, and a bull from Crete
  • He also killed the Minotaur with the help of Minos' daughter Ariadne
• Theseus as King of Athens:

  • Theseus united conflicting towns of Attica under Athens' allegiance
  • Introduced democracy and initiated the Panathenaic Games to unite the religions of the area
• The Founding of the Roman Race:

  • Venus fell in love with Anchises in Troy and bore Aeneas
  • Aeneas fled Troy with the household Gods and lost his wife, later marrying Lavina in Italy
  • Aeneas' descendants, including Romulus and Remus, founded Rome
• The Founding of Rome:

  • Romulus and Remus, raised by a she-wolf, overthrew Amilius and built Rome
  • Romulus killed Remus and named the city 'Rome'
  • Romans and Sabine tribe fought until the women intervened and peace was made
• Plutarch Parallel Lives - Theseus and Romulus:

  • Plutarch compares Theseus and Romulus in terms of their deeds, leadership, misfortunes, achievements, relationships with family and women
  • Plutarch views Theseus as more admirable for his deeds, leadership, and relationships
• what things did theseus do as king of athens?

  united the conflicting towns of attica, introduced democracy and the panathenaic games
• what does the erechtheion contain?

  a well, garden and tombs of king cecrops and erechtheus
• Aegeus

  King of Athens
• Pittheus

  King of Troezen
• Aegeus' conception of Theseus

  1. Aegeus consulted oracle

  2. Pittheus interpreted riddle

  3. Pittheus got Aegeus drunk

  4. Aegeus slept with Pittheus' daughter Aethra
• Aethra received a message in her dream to go to the island of Sphairia where Poseidon emerged to sleep with her, causing Theseus to have both godly and mortal characteristics
• Aegeus' plan for Theseus

  1. Aegeus left sandals and sword under a rock

  2. Told Aethra Theseus must retrieve them to prove he is worthy heir

  3. Theseus easily retrieved the items
• Theseus wanted to equal Heracles' achievements


  Theseus chose the dangerous route to Athens
• Theseus' Labours

  1. Perphetes

  2. Sinis

  3. Crommyonian Sow

  4. Sciron

  5. Cercyon

  6. Procrustes

  7. Bull of Marathon

  8. The Minotaur
• Ariadne


  Minos' daughter who helped Theseus kill the Minotaur
• Possible reasons as to why Theseus left Ariadne on the island of Naxos


  • Ariadne was pregnant with Theseus' son
  • Theseus fell in love with another woman
  • Athena told Theseus in a dream that Dionysus picked Ariadne as his bride
• When sailing back to Athens, Theseus forgot to change the sail from black to white, causing King Aegeus to throw himself off a cliff and die