Aegeus- Greek FigureMortal"King of Athens"

The Oracle and Troezen

Aegeus was king of Athens and a descendant of Erechtheus. Despite two marriages, he had no heir. He journeyed to Delphi, and the Pythia delivered a cryptic response: "Do not loosen the projecting mouth of the wineskin until you reach the height of Athens." Aegeus could not decipher the riddle and departed in confusion.

On his way home, he stopped at Troezen to visit King Pittheus, a skilled reader of oracles. Pittheus understood at once. He plied Aegeus with wine and brought his daughter Aethra to him, eager to bind Troezen to Athens through blood. Poseidon also visited Aethra that night, so Theseus was born with two fathers: a mortal king and an Olympian god. Before departing Troezen, Aegeus placed his sword and sandals beneath a great rock and told Aethra that when their son was strong enough to lift it, he should come to Athens to claim his birthright.

Medea in Athens

Years later, the sorceress Medea arrived in Athens after her exile from Corinth and married Aegeus, who hoped she could cure his childlessness through her magic. She bore him a son, Medus. When the young Theseus arrived to claim his heritage, Medea recognized him as a threat to her son's position and persuaded Aegeus to poison the stranger at a banquet. At the last moment, Aegeus spotted the sword at Theseus's side — his own weapon from beneath the rock — and dashed the poisoned cup from his son's hands. Medea fled Athens on her chariot.

Death and the Aegean

After Minos defeated Athens in war over the death of his son Androgeus, the city was forced to send seven youths and seven maidens to Crete to feed the Minotaur. Theseus volunteered to end the tribute and sailed with black sails, promising to hoist white ones on his return if he survived. He slew the Minotaur with Ariadne's help but forgot to change the sails. When Aegeus saw the black-sailed ship approaching from Cape Sounion, he threw himself into the sea. The waters were named the Aegean in his memory.