10 Theseus and the Minotaur

CHAPTER 10 Theseus and the Minotaur A long time ago in Athens, a child was to be born to the king, Aegeus. The king wanted to protect his unborn child from his brutal enemies. So he brought his pregnant wife to her home in southern Greece. There she could raise their child in safety, far away from his enemies in Athens. King Aegeus was afraid he might never have the chance to know his child. So he placed a special sword in a cave. Next to it, he placed a special pair of shoes. He covered the entrance to the cave with a heavy stone.

Before King Aegeus left his pregnant wife to go back to Athens, he told her what he had done. "If we have a son, tell him to come to this cave when he grows strong enough. See if he can roll away the stone and get the things behind it. If so, send him to Athens. He may then claim me as his father." Soon the child was born. It was a boy, and his mother named him Theseus. The boy grew up stronger than all others. When his mother finally took him to the cave, he had no trouble moving the stone. He saw the great sword and shoes inside. "The time has come for you to find your father," his mother told him. "Your grandfather will give you a ship. Sail to Athens swiftly and safely. Do not take the road. The road to Athens is long and full of dangerous robbers."

"No, Mother, I will not take the easy way to Athens. I want to be like my cousin Heracles. Heracles would not travel by sea," Theseus told her. Theseus walked for many days on the road to Athens. He came across many thieves who robbed innocent, poor people. Theseus fought each of them and won. Soon all of Greece rang with praise for the young man. News traveled that Theseus had brought justice to all the villains in the land. By the time Theseus reached Athens, everyone thought he was a hero. King Aegeus was not aware that Theseus was his son. He had never met him, nor did he know his son's name. The king was jealous that the young man was so popular. He was afraid the people of Athens might like Theseus better than him. So King Aegeus talked to his adviser,

Medea the sorceress. Medea had once helped Jason obtain the Golden Fleece with her magical powers. She eventually began using her magical powers to help King Aegeus run his kingdom. Medea knew that Theseus was King Aegeus's son. Her magical powers helped her know many things. But she was afraid that if the king learned Theseus was his son, he would have no need for her anymore. The king asked Medea what he should do about this young hero. "Invite him to a special banquet, my king. I will serve him a poisoned drink," Medea said in her soothing voice. "With the young hero gone, there will be no threat to your kingship. And I promise you, no one will ever know." The king invited Theseus to the palace for a banquet that night. When the young man

arrived, Medea offered the poisoned drink to him. But at that moment Theseus drew his sword to show King Aegeus. He wanted the king to know who he was. Of course, the king instantly recognized the sword as his own. He knocked the poisoned drink out of Medea's hand. It fell to the ground. "How dare you try to poison my son!" the king roared at Medea. Medea realized that her evil plan had been discovered. She fled the room and escaped from Athens. King Aegeus then declared that Theseus was his son and next in line for the throne. Just then a messenger from King Minos arrived. He came from the island of Crete, where King Minos ruled. The messenger demanded the usual offering of seven young women and seven young men.

"Father, what does the messenger mean by this?" Theseus asked. "It is a terrible curse upon our kingdom, my son." King Aegeus told him the story. Years ago, King Minos's son had visited King Aegeus. But Aegeus didn't welcome the prince to his land. Instead, he had sent the young man on a dangerous mission to kill a wild bull. The bull killed the prince. Then King Minos attacked Athens and King Aegeus. Aegeus begged Minos for his life and his kingdom. Minos insisted Aegeus make up for the death of his son. He demanded that Athens send seven young women and seven young men to Crete every nine years. These young Athenians would enter a labyrinth, or giant maze, made out of tall bushes. There the Athenians would be eaten by the Minotaur—a half-human, half-bull monster