Friday, October 9, 2009

What does the mythological Greek hero Theseus impart to other people? What are 5 words that describe Theseus?

Theseus is one of most famous Greek mythological heroes whose exploits and adventures have inspired countless stories and legends. In a majority of these myths, Theseus offers hope, redemption and the prospect of familial and political unity to the leaders he encounters. For example, in the famous tale of Theseus vanquishing the minotaur, the hero volunteers himself as a victim of the minotaur in order to save lives and prevent the breakdown of Athenian family structures; by killing the minotaur, Theseus intends to end the annual tradition of sacrificing Athenian youths (seven young men and seven maidens) instituted by the vengeful King Minos of Crete, who wanted to harm Athens following the accidental death of his son Androgeus during his visit to the city-state. 


In terms of choosing "5 words that describe Theseus", consider him in light of the following five characteristics: resourcefulness (devising clever and unusual ways to conquer enemies or beasts); ambition (in myth, he became king of Athens and significantly expanded the empire); selflessness (repeatedly risking his life to save others, as seen in the Minotaur story, among others); fair-mindedness (in myth, he is credited with reforming Athenian government in the direction of democracy and championing the rights of the oppressed); perseverance (in order to claim his birthright as heir to the throne of Athens, Theseus successfully endured 'Six Labors', requiring him to kill many bandits and monsters on his long journey to Athens).

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