Aegeus’s Family Tree

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Family

• Aethra(spouse),Poseidon(spouse),Theseus(child)— Consort · Miraculous

  Aethra of Troezen lay with both Aegeus and Poseidon on the same night, giving Theseus dual paternity — mortal king and sea god. Aegeus left sword and sandals under a rock for the boy to claim.

• Medea(spouse),Medus(child)— Marriage

  After fleeing Corinth, Medea married King Aegeus of Athens and bore him a son, Medus, the eponymous ancestor of the Medes.

Enemy of

• Androgeus

  King Aegeus of Athens sent Androgeus against the Marathonian Bull after the Cretan prince swept the Panathenaic games, leading to Androgeus's death. Minos held Aegeus responsible and waged war on Athens, imposing the tribute of youths to the Minotaur.

• Minos

  Minos waged war on Athens after the death of his son Androgeus, defeating King Aegeus and imposing the tribute of seven youths and seven maidens to feed the Minotaur in the Labyrinth.

Associated with

• Delphi

  Aegeus consulted the Oracle at Delphi about his childlessness and received the cryptic prophecy not to open the wineskin until he reached Athens.

• Pittheus

  When Aegeus visited Troezen, Pittheus interpreted the Delphic oracle forbidding him to loosen the wineskin before reaching Athens. Understanding it foretold a great son, Pittheus plied Aegeus with wine and brought his daughter Aethra to him.

• Pythia

  The Pythia gave Aegeus the cryptic oracle to not loosen the wineskin's foot until he returned to Athens. Aegeus failed to understand the prophecy, leading to the conception of Theseus at Troezen.

• Theseus

  Aegeus recognized Theseus by the sword he had hidden under the rock at Troezen. He later threw himself into the sea upon seeing Theseus's ship return with black sails, giving the Aegean its name.