Image of Aegeus (Folklore)

Aegeus (Folklore)

Aegeus was one of the kings of Athens in Greek mythology, who gave his name to the Aegean Sea, was the father of Theseus, and founded Athenian institutions. While visiting in Athens, King Minos’ son, Androgeus managed to defeat Aegeus in every contest during the Panathenaic Games. Out of envy, Aegeus sent him to conquer the Marathonian Bull, which killed him. Minos was angry and declared war on Athens. He offered the Athenians peace, however, under the condition that Athens would send seven young men and seven young women every nine years to Crete to be fed to the Minotaur, a vicious monster. This continued until Theseus killed the Minotaur with the help of Ariadne, Minos’ daughter. After his adventures in Crete, Theseus returned by ship to Athens. His father, Aegeus previously had asked him to hang a white sail as a sign that Theseus is alive, but Theseus neglected this request. When Aegeus saw Theseus’ ships without a white sail, he assumed the worst and threw himself in his grief into the sea, named after him the Aegean Sea.
Alias Aegeus
Real Names/Alt Names Aegeus
Characteristics Royalty, Myths & Legends, Bronze Age, Greek
Creators/Key Contributors
First Appearance Greek mythology
First Publisher
Appearance List Literature: Apollodorus’ The Library (1st-2nd century AD), Apollodorus, Diodorus Siculus
Sample Read Tales of Ancient Greece [Internet Archive]
Description Aegeus was one of the kings of Athens in Greek mythology, who gave his name to the Aegean Sea, was the father of Theseus, and founded Athenian institutions. While visiting in Athens, King Minos’ son, Androgeus managed to defeat Aegeus in every contest during the Panathenaic Games. Out of envy, Aegeus sent him to conquer the Marathonian Bull, which killed him. Minos was angry and declared war on Athens. He offered the Athenians peace, however, under the condition that Athens would send seven young men and seven young women every nine years to Crete to be fed to the Minotaur, a vicious monster. This continued until Theseus killed the Minotaur with the help of Ariadne, Minos’ daughter. After his adventures in Crete, Theseus returned by ship to Athens. His father, Aegeus previously had asked him to hang a white sail as a sign that Theseus is alive, but Theseus neglected this request. When Aegeus saw Theseus’ ships without a white sail, he assumed the worst and threw himself in his grief into the sea, named after him the Aegean Sea.
Source Aegeus – Wikipedia
Theseus Recognized by his Father (1832, Detail) | Hippolyte Flandrin
Theseus Recognized by his Father (1832, Detail) | Hippolyte Flandrin

The Golden Fleece and the Heroes who Lived before Achilles (1921) | Willy Pogány