AEGEUS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Aegeus was a famous king from Greek mythology, so famous indeed, that the Aegean Sea was named after him. In Greek mythology Aegeus was a king of Athens, and also the father of the hero Theseus.
Aegeus Son of Pandion
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Aegeus was not born in Athens but was instead born in the nearby city of Megara. This was because Aegeus was the son of Pandion II.
Pandion II was a king of Athens, being the son of Cecrops II and grandson of Erechtheus. Pandion though was overthrown by his cousins, the sons of Metion, who put their father, a son of Erechtheus himself, upon the throne. |
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Pandion was made welcome in Megara by King Pylas, who married his daughter, Pylia, to Pandion. Pylas would also leave the throne of Megara to Pandion, whilst the former king went into exile.
Pylia would give birth to four sons for Pandion, the eldest being Aegeus, with Pallas, Nisus and Lycus following.
It is occasionally said that Aegeus was not of the bloodline of Pandion but was instead adopted by Pandion, in this case Aegeus was normally said to be the son of the Megarian Scyrius.
Pylia would give birth to four sons for Pandion, the eldest being Aegeus, with Pallas, Nisus and Lycus following.
It is occasionally said that Aegeus was not of the bloodline of Pandion but was instead adopted by Pandion, in this case Aegeus was normally said to be the son of the Megarian Scyrius.
Aegeus King of Athens
When Pandion died, Aegeus and his brothers, now of age, decided to regain their birthright, and attacked Athens. The sons of Pandion were successful in their attack and the sons of Metion were forced to flee from Attica.
As the eldest son, Aegeus now took over the throne of Athens, although the governing of the region was supposed to be divided between the four brothers. Thus, Nisus became the new king of Megara, Lycus was said to have ruled Euboea, and Pallas became governor of the southern territory.
At some point though, it was said that Aegeus cemented his own power, taking control of Pallas’ sphere of influence, and expelling Lycus from Attica. Pallas and his 50 sons would remain in Athens, but Lycus was said to have gone to Asia Minor, where a new land, Lycia was named after him.
As the eldest son, Aegeus now took over the throne of Athens, although the governing of the region was supposed to be divided between the four brothers. Thus, Nisus became the new king of Megara, Lycus was said to have ruled Euboea, and Pallas became governor of the southern territory.
At some point though, it was said that Aegeus cemented his own power, taking control of Pallas’ sphere of influence, and expelling Lycus from Attica. Pallas and his 50 sons would remain in Athens, but Lycus was said to have gone to Asia Minor, where a new land, Lycia was named after him.
Aegeus Longs for A Son
The first problem to face Aegeus was the question of a successor, for despite marrying first Meta, daughter of Hoples, and then Chalciope, daughter of Rhexenor, Aegeus remained childless.
Fearing that he had been cursed for some unknown reason by the goddess Aphrodite, Aegeus was said to have introduced the worship of Aphrodite to Athens, but still no successor was born. King Aegeus was now fearful that being childless was a sign of weakness, and that Pallas and his sons might remove him by force.
Seeking a solution to his problem, King Aegeus visited the Oracle of Delphi, but the words given to him by the Pythia gave him no comfort, for the words spoken by the priestess were, "The bulging mouth of the wineskin, O best of men, Loose not until thou hast reached the height of Athens."
Fearing that he had been cursed for some unknown reason by the goddess Aphrodite, Aegeus was said to have introduced the worship of Aphrodite to Athens, but still no successor was born. King Aegeus was now fearful that being childless was a sign of weakness, and that Pallas and his sons might remove him by force.
Seeking a solution to his problem, King Aegeus visited the Oracle of Delphi, but the words given to him by the Pythia gave him no comfort, for the words spoken by the priestess were, "The bulging mouth of the wineskin, O best of men, Loose not until thou hast reached the height of Athens."
Aegeus and AethraTo Aegeus these words made no sense and seeking some clarity, Aegeus went to Troezen, for there reigned the wise King Pittheus.
Pittheus understood the prophecy but did not explain it to Aegeus, but instead Pittheus got Aegeus drunk, and then had him lay with his daughter Aethra. It was also said that on the same night, Aethra also slept with Poseidon. Aegeus Father of TheseusAegeus would return to Athens, but told Aethra that if she was pregnant with his son, to raise him, but not inform him of who his father was. Aegeus also buried beneath a large stone his own sword, shield and sandals.
Aethra was told that when the son, if a son was to be born, could move the stone by himself he should be told everything, and then bade to make his way to Athens. Of course Aethra was pregnant, and she would later give birth to a son of Aegeus, named Theseus, but Aegeus did not become aware of this for many years. |
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Aegeus and the War with Crete
Problems mounted for Aegeus upon his return to Athens, and despite introducing the Panathenaic Games, troubles grew. The Cretan Bull having left King Eurystheus’ kingdom made a new home for itself in Marathon, and there, the bull caused much devastation, and killed many.
None who Aegeus sent against it survived the encounter. Then, Aegeus decided to send Androgeus, a prince of Crete, against the beast, for Androgeus had excelled during the Games, winning all events he entered. Athletic he might have been, but Andorgeus was no match for the bull, and he was gored to death.
Some tell though of how Andorgeus was not killed by the Bull, but was murdered on the orders of King Aegeus, for the king feared that the Cretan prince was plotting with the sons of Pallas to overthrow him.
Now the death of Androgeus caused a major diplomatic incident, for Androgeus was the son of King Minos, and Minos sent forth his army and navy against Athens.
Megara would fall to Minos, and then at the walls of Athens, Minos called down pestilence upon Athens, with disease upon his city, and his army inferior to that of Crete, King Aegeus had to surrender to Crete. Thereafter, Athens would have to send tribute to Crete, a tribute that took the form of seven youths and seven maidens every year, or every seven or nine years.
None who Aegeus sent against it survived the encounter. Then, Aegeus decided to send Androgeus, a prince of Crete, against the beast, for Androgeus had excelled during the Games, winning all events he entered. Athletic he might have been, but Andorgeus was no match for the bull, and he was gored to death.
Some tell though of how Andorgeus was not killed by the Bull, but was murdered on the orders of King Aegeus, for the king feared that the Cretan prince was plotting with the sons of Pallas to overthrow him.
Now the death of Androgeus caused a major diplomatic incident, for Androgeus was the son of King Minos, and Minos sent forth his army and navy against Athens.
Megara would fall to Minos, and then at the walls of Athens, Minos called down pestilence upon Athens, with disease upon his city, and his army inferior to that of Crete, King Aegeus had to surrender to Crete. Thereafter, Athens would have to send tribute to Crete, a tribute that took the form of seven youths and seven maidens every year, or every seven or nine years.
Aegeus and MedeaKing Aegeus remained on the throne, although subservient to Crete, and things started to look up for he married for the third time; although, it might not have been the wisest move that Aegeus had ever made.
Medea, the sorceress daughter of Aeetes arrived in Athens seeking a place of refuge having left Jason, and killed their sons. Perhaps Medea promised to end the childless plight of Aegeus for sanctuary, but in any case Aegeus and Medea wed, and soon after Medea gave birth to a son, Medus. Now often Medus is called the son of Aegeus, but some claim that Medus was in fact the son of Jason. Medea was certainly happy with her new position as Queen of Athens, and it looked like Medus was now a certainty to succeed Aegeus as King of Athens. Theseus Comes to Aegeus' CourtThen, however, a stranger arrived in Athens, Aegeus did not recognise this newcomer, but Medea recognised him as Theseus, the grown up son of Aegeus by Aethra. So, Medea plotted to kill the son of Aegeus before he was recognise, and Medea convinced that the stranger was plotting with others to overthrow the king. To get rid of him, Theseus was thus tasked by Aegeus with the killing of the Bull that had already killed so many.
Theseus though succeeded where so many had failed before, and the Bull was killed, but even so Medea continued on plotting, and the sorceress gave Aegeus a poison drink to give to Theseus. |
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Just as Theseus was to drink though, Aegeus finally recognised the sword, shield and sandals that he had buried so many years before in Troezen, and knocked the poison from his son’s hands.
United with his first born son, Medea knew her time was up in Athens, and so she and Medus fled to Colchis.
United with his first born son, Medea knew her time was up in Athens, and so she and Medus fled to Colchis.
The Death of Aegeus and the Naming of the Aegean Sea
Aegeus now had a heroic son to succeed him, and Theseus helped secure the Athenian throne for his father, for it was said that Theseus killed Pallas and his 50 sons, when they rose up against the rule of Aegeus and marched upon Athens.
Athens though was still in a subservient role to Crete, and with the next batch of Athenian youths due to be sent to Crete, Theseus volunteered to be one of their number, and although reluctant, Aegeus agreed.
Theseus was of course successful in killing the Minotaur within its labyrinth, for that was where the Athenian tribute was bound, and shortly afterwards King Minos would die, so there was no future threat of Minos attacking Athens once again.
The death of Aegeus though, was also near.
In Athens, Aegeus waited for the return of his son. Theseus was supposed to set white sails on his ship if he had been successful in his mission, but Theseus forgot to do so, and when Aegeus spotted the ship returning with black sails hoisted, the king believed that Theseus had perished upon Crete.
Overcome with grief, Aegeus killed himself, throwing him off the cliff top into the sea below, and this, according to some, is how the Aegean Sea got its name.
Theseus would of course succeed Aegeus to the throne of Athens, but his time as king caused many trials and tribulations to Athens.
Athens though was still in a subservient role to Crete, and with the next batch of Athenian youths due to be sent to Crete, Theseus volunteered to be one of their number, and although reluctant, Aegeus agreed.
Theseus was of course successful in killing the Minotaur within its labyrinth, for that was where the Athenian tribute was bound, and shortly afterwards King Minos would die, so there was no future threat of Minos attacking Athens once again.
The death of Aegeus though, was also near.
In Athens, Aegeus waited for the return of his son. Theseus was supposed to set white sails on his ship if he had been successful in his mission, but Theseus forgot to do so, and when Aegeus spotted the ship returning with black sails hoisted, the king believed that Theseus had perished upon Crete.
Overcome with grief, Aegeus killed himself, throwing him off the cliff top into the sea below, and this, according to some, is how the Aegean Sea got its name.
Theseus would of course succeed Aegeus to the throne of Athens, but his time as king caused many trials and tribulations to Athens.
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Colin Quartermain - Aegeus -