The Influence of Theseus
Obinna Oguike
Professor Karen Owens
Mythology HUM 2310
27 November 2015
The influence of Theseus:
There are numerous tale of heroes in Greek mythology ranging from the brave and courageous Heracles to the noble twin brothers Dioscuri. Each playing an unexpendable role in the development and growth of modern civilization. Heroes in Greek were described to be of celestial origin and with the performance of a great dead were able to transcend a mortal existence to become gods. In addition, those with strong convictions are ultimately willing to sacrifice their lives to attain everlasting splendor. The hero in Greek mythology is one who transcends both personal and social limitations instituted …show more content…
His first bout was recognized to be a bandit name Periphetes, believed to be the son of Hephaestus, the Greek Olympian god of craftsmanship. Periphetes was known as being cruel to travelers, bashing their heads with his iron club as they passed by. Theseus confronted Periphetes and in a fierce engagement. Due to his strong conviction of preserving justice, he smashed the head of Periphetes in the same fashion the bandit does to unsuspecting travelers and won his first battle. He then kept the iron club as a trophy and carried on with his journey. Upon his arrival to the isthmian entrance, he encountered yet another trail. Before so, he was informed by the civilians that another bandit, Sinis, also known as the Pine-bender waited ahead in hope of defeating travelers. Sinis was notorious for capturing travelers, and tying them between pine trees that are bent to the ground then releasing the trees. Theseus fought the foe and defeated him the same way Sinis kills travelers. Subsequently following Sinis defeat, Theseus became intimate with Perigune, the daughter of Sinis, and fathered a child, Melanippus. Continuing his adventure north of Isthmus, Theseus encountered and defeated the Crommyonian Sow, a very large pig bred by an old crone named Phaea. His next trial involved an elderly robber named Sciron who convinced travelers to wash his feet along a very narrow and stiff cliff, he then kicked them off the cliff to be eaten by a sea monster. Theseus saw right through the trick and pushed him off the cliff to be eaten by the monster. Another enemy he met in his journey was named Cercyon. He would challenge travelers to a wrestling match and when he won, he would kill the travelers. Theseus accepted his challenge and won the match and kill Cercyon. Cercyon was a king who was required to battle annually for his life and his kingdom. After Theseus won against Cercyon he revoked the religious rite to