Athens Did Not Deserve Theseus

To Athens, the Theseus of history had undoubtedly been an enlightened ruler.

When he came, bandits ran rampant outside and magical beasts wreaked havoc, while within, the city-state was poor and weak. His uncle's fifty sons coveted the throne, inciting the nobles to rebel. The citizens distrusted one another, and the city was steeped in bleak Death Qi. His father Aegeus hid within the royal palace, living in constant terror.

Along the way, Theseus had eliminated the tree-bending bandit Sinis, the robber Cercyon, and the great bandit Damastes; he had defeated the monstrous sow Phaea and the Cretan Bull; and he had abolished the humiliating custom of sending young children to Crete Island as sacrifices to the Minotaur Minos.

After arriving in Athens, he used strategy to execute the fifty rebellious sons of his uncle Pallas. In the end, he amassed merit and prestige, ascending the throne.

During his reign, Theseus abolished the separate city councils and independent institutions of the various towns, united every social stratum of Athens, established festivals, and forged a shared cultural identity. He transformed Athens from an isolated royal fortress into a true city-state with broad influence and cohesion, one increasingly accepted and celebrated by more and more people.

Moreover, he ensured that all residents enjoyed equal rights, attracting new immigrants while defining distinct rights and obligations for every class.

And as king, Theseus also restrained his own power. Just as he had personally promised, he made royal authority subject to the checks of the aristocratic council and the people's assembly.

It could be said that Theseus was Athens' undisputed founding father.

Yet the Athenians could hardly be called loyal to this founding father.

While Theseus was trapped in the underworld, the Athenians feared war and handed Helen, whom he had abducted, back to the