What are your weaknesses? Theseus's Strengths: Brave, strong, clever, good with disguise. While among the Amazons, Theseus fell in love with their queen, Antiope (sometimes called Hippolyta),[8] and carried her off with him to Athens. As an old man, Theseus fell out of favor in Athens. One band of them would march on the town from one side while another lay in wait near a place called Gargettus in ambush. Theseus, like the hero Heracles, travelled widely and slew fearsome monsters before becoming king. [ii] After Aethra became pregnant, Aegeus decided to return to Athens. Some sources include him among the Argonauts who sailed with Jason to retrieve the Golden Fleece, or with the heroes who took part in the Calydonian Boar Hunt. Young, brave, and ambitious, Theseus decided to go alone by the land route and defeated many bandits along the way. The myth of Theseus inspired Suzanne Collins The Hunger Games trilogy (20082010). The hero-cult of Theseus was almost certainly concentrated solely in the city of Athens. Plus, because you learned the skill on your own, youve showcased your commitment and initiative. After the death of Antiope, Theseus married Phaedra, the daughter of the Cretan king Minos and thus the sister of his former lover Ariadne. Foster a culture of inclusion and belonging. Your response should demonstrate self-awareness, and statements like those lack genuineness. Theseus has had a rich afterlife in modern popular culture. Instead of travelling to Athens by sea, Theseus decided to make a name for himself by taking the more dangerous overland route through the Greek Isthmus. He was fixed to the rock. Like many heroes of Greek mythology, Theseus waged war with the Amazons. He had many great triumphs as a young man, but he died a king in exile filled with despair. Mythology // Olympians - Symbols. She swore to make a sacrifice to Zeus if Theseus were successful in capturing the bull. [10] In all versions of the story, however, Theseus finally managed to drive the Amazons away from Athens after the death of Antiope, though only after Antiope had given him a son named Hippolytus. 3. Medea therefore tried to trick her husband into killing Theseus. [Last Chance] Hear from industry leaders bringing you cutting-edge insights to transform your workforce. The myth of Theseus and Antiope is also reimagined in Steven Pressfields novel Last of the Amazons (2002). Career breaks dont carry the same stigma as before, but they still come with some risks. Hippolytus horses were frightened; he lost control of the chariot, became entangled in the reins, and was trampled to death. A middle-of-the-road approach to reflecting on your work demonstrates your ability to accept criticism while not allowing it to disrupt your confidence and productivity. In 475 BCE, the Athenians claimed to have identified the remains of Theseus on Scyrus and brought them back to be reinterred in Athens. The reason Theseus went to Crete could have been more for the reason to get fame than to help Athens. Plus, it allows me to focus on the other person without stressing about time while we chat.. But Theseus was raised by his mother, Aethra, in the Peloponnesian city of Troezen. The numerous heroic deeds ascribed to him were seen by the ancient Athenians as the acts that led to the birth of democracy in the Attic city-state, the cradle of Greek democracy. Here, you turn your weakness into a strength without becoming a clich. What dangerous creature did Theseus drive back from Marathon? The goal isnt to lie about your weaknesses its to frame them in a way that highlights your soft skills and suitability for the role. Sometimes, Im too hard on myself. But Lycomedes, king of Scyros, killed Theseus by casting him into the sea from the top of a cliff. Type of Villain Theseus to Kratos. Thus, the Athenians sent a religious mission to the island of Delos (one of Apollo's most sacred sanctuaries) on the Athenian state galleythe ship itselfto pay their fealty to the god. He worked hard to protect Athens and helped develop their power structure. On their journey back to Athens, Theseus stopped at the island of Naxos. Theseus's best friend was Pirithous, king of the Lapiths. It was presided over by the Phytalidae, the hereditary priests of Theseus. According to some sources[citation needed], Theseus also was one of the Argonauts, although Apollonius of Rhodes states in the Argonautica[citation needed] that Theseus was still in the underworld at this time. Theseus could be thoughtless or hasty: his failure to follow his father Aegeus instructions when he came back from Crete caused Aegeus death, and his quick temper cost him the life of his son Hippolytus. As the unifying king, he is credited with building a palace on the fortress of the Acropolis. Theseus most significant achievement was the Synoikismos, the unification of the twelve demes, or local settlements of Attica, into the political and economic entity that became Athens. Meanwhile, Theseus was eventually rescued from Hades by Heracles, but Pirithous remained trapped in eternal punishment for his impiety (in the most common version of the story). Minotaur, Greek Minotauros ("Minos's Bull"), in Greek mythology, a fabulous monster of Crete that had the body of a man and the head of a bull. Also according to Ovid, Phaedra, Theseus' wife, felt left out by her husband's love for Pirithous and she used this as an excuse to try to convince her stepson, Hippolytus, to accept being her lover, as Theseus also neglected his son because he preferred to spend long periods with his companion.[13][14]. Imagine that you are a reporter in Ovid: Theseus major exploits, including his battle with the Minotaur and his involvement in the Calydonian Boar Hunt, are treated in Book 8 of Ovids famous epic the Metamorphoses (ca. Ares gave Hippolyta a gift of a magical belt that would grant her the title of Queen of the Amazons in the city of Themiskyra, near the Black Sea. Detail of the Aison cup showing Theseus slaying the Minotaur in the presence of Athena (c. 435415 BC). Deutsch | Being strong and skillful, he did very well, winning some events outright. A half-god of superhuman strength and violent passions, Heracles was the epitome of . His downfall at the hands of Aphrodite is most famously recounted by the . His father Aegeus is king of Athens, but Theseus grows up in southern Greece with his mother. Once again, were back to honesty. As he did so he felt his limbs change and grow stiff. Who killed Achilles? It was in Scyrus that Theseus died. Oxford: Clarendon, 1997. I find it difficult to delegate tasks when I know I can complete them myself. Self-awareness, resilience, and humility are some of the best traits you can possess as a worker. The Minotaur was imprisoned in the Labyrinth, a giant maze built by the Athenian architect Daedalus. What new government does Theseus establish in Athens? Finally, Theseus defeated Procrustes (sometimes called Damastes), who had two beds that he would offer to travellers. In his iconography, Theseus is usually depicted as a handsome, strong, and beardless young hero. Hoping to remedy this, Aegeus went to Delphi, where he received a strange prophecy: The bulging mouth of the wineskin, O best of men, loose not until thou hast reached the height of Athens.[1]. the quality or state of being weak; also : an instance or period of being weak; fault, defect; a special desire or fondness See the full definition Discover how your life can change after finding what you love and learning to love what you do. Theseus killed Periphetes and claimed the club for himself. Due to the Minotaur's monstrous form, King Minos ordered the craftsman, Daedalus, and his son, Icarus, to build a huge maze known as . Theseus is also clever, and he often uses his wits more than his strength. 19 terms. In this answer, you acknowledge how bluntness can make you a better communicator in the workplace in some contexts while demonstrating an understanding of when its better left out. Ward, Anne G., ed. Where Does The Canterbury Tales Take Place? Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995. In a version recounted by the Roman playwright Seneca, entitled Phaedra, after Phaedra told Theseus that Hippolytus had raped her, Theseus called upon Neptune (as he did Poseidon in Euripides' interpretation) to kill his son. Theseus chose Helen, and Pirithous helped him abduct her from her father Tyndareus home in Sparta. Who Won The Storytelling Contest In The Canterbury Tales? When the fourteen tributes reached Crete, they were fed to the Minotaur, a terrible bull-man hybrid born from an affair between a divine bull and Minos wife Pasiphae: A mingled form and hybrid birth of monstrous shape, Two different natures, man and bull, were joined in him.[5]. The early modern name Theseion (Temple of Theseus) was mistakenly applied to the Temple of Hephaestus which was thought to be the actual site of the hero's tomb. Admitting this fault and showing off your solution will help you earn the interviewers respect. Its hard to know what to do if you dont get a promotion. Jorge Luis Borges short story The House of Asterion (published in Spanish in 1947) presents an interesting variation on the myth of the Minotaur, told from the perspective of the Minotaur rather than Theseus. Sophocles: Theseus is a major character in Sophocles Oedipus at Colonus (ca. King of Athens; buries sword and shoes under rock for his son, Theseus, to uncover when he's old and strong enough. Medea realized that Theseus was the son of Aegeus, but she did not want Aegeus to recognize him. The Heroes of the Greeks. The fifth-century BCE poet Bacchylides tells a story of how Theseus proved that he was the son of Poseidon by diving into the sea and retrieving a ring that had been tossed into it by King Minos (Bacchylides, Ode 17). Unfortunately, this poem only survives in fragments. Medea, the Marathonian Bull, Androgeus, and the Pallantides, Abduction of Persephone and encounter with Hades. Being honest doesnt mean listing every mistake in your career. But in my last role, I had no choice but to share my responsibilities multitasking wasnt an option. There are different versions of what happened to Ariadne there. London: Pall Mall Press, 1970. In some stories, he was thrown from a cliff by Lycomedes, the king of Scyrus. By Naomi Reed / November 16, 2022. Theseus father was either Poseidon, the god of the sea, or Aegeus, the king of Athens. When he reaches Athens, he finds that Aegeus is married to Medea (formerly wife of Jason), who plots against him. Seneca Falls Convention. In Ovid's Metamorphoses Theseus fights against and kills Eurytus, the "fiercest of all the fierce centaurs"[12] at the wedding of Pirithous and Hippodamia. convention met. But it doesnt have to be. The fourth and tenth letters of Ovids epistolary Heroides are also addressed to Theseus: in Heroides 4, Phaedra confesses her infatuation with Theseus son Hippolytus, and in Heroides 10, Ariadne reproaches Theseus for deserting her on Naxos. [13] Little else is known of the festivals or worship of Theseus. He then goes on to unite Attica under Athenian rule: the synoikismos ('dwelling together'). His retribution was to stipulate that at the end of every Great Year, which occurred after every seven cycles on the solar calendar, the seven most courageous youths and the seven most beautiful maidens were to board a boat and be sent as tribute to Crete, never to be seen again. The myths surrounding Theseus his journeys, exploits, and friends have provided material for fiction throughout the ages. But, when you land an interview, you still need to make a good first impression. See also Plutarch, Life of Theseus 3.3. 2 vols. Before leaving, however, he buried his sandals and sword under a huge rock[iii] and told Aethra that when their son grew up, he should move the rock, if he were heroic enough, and take the tokens for himself as evidence of his royal parentage. Hades put him in his chair of forgetfulness, where his mind would go blank and they could not move. [v] Like the others, Theseus was stripped of his weapons when they sailed. The Greek Myths. Then think about what youve done or plan to do to address them. Does Archbishop Of Canterbury Sit In House Of Lords? The myths of Theseus are treated in Book 3 of the Library and in the beginning of the Epitome. In other stories, Medea tried to poison Theseus. Aegeus's consort Medea recognized Theseus immediately as Aegeus' son and worried that Theseus would be chosen as heir to Aegeus' kingdom instead of her son Medus. Early Life The Minotaur was the offspring of the Cretan Queen Pasiphae and a majestic bull. "The ship wherein Theseus and the youth of Athens returned had thirty oars, and was preserved by the Athenians down even to the time of Demetrius Phalereus,[vii] for they took away the old planks as they decayed, putting in new and stronger timber in their place"[9], The ship had to be maintained in a seaworthy state, for, in return for Theseus's successful mission, the Athenians had pledged to honor Apollo every year henceforth. Hades put him in his chair of forgetfulness, where his mind would go blank and they could not move. "May I therefore succeed in purifying Fable, making her submit to reason and take on the semblance of History. Theseus's Strengths: Brave, strong, clever, good with disguise. Theseus was furious and prayed to Poseidon that Hippolytus might be punished. Artemis would later tell Theseus the truth, promising to avenge her loyal follower on another follower of Aphrodite. Theseus was said to have been responsible for the synoikismos (dwelling-together), the political and cultural unification of the region of Attica under the rule of the city-state of Athens. The name Theseus was likely derived from the Greek word (thesmos), which means institution. Theseus name thus reflects his mythical role as a founder or reformer of the Athenian government. What dangerous creature did Theseus encounter in Crommyon? Ive been working on developing my empathy so I can meet my staff where theyre at. Im an extremely social person and love getting to know my colleagues; I find conversation enriches the experience at work. Thus Theseus was raised in his mother's land. Predictably, this did not end well. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(9253440, 'eeec287e-7356-4450-b302-52763b3bf364', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); Heres how to prepare your answer to this common interview question: We cant emphasize this enough. Theseus was by far the most famous and important of the mythical kings of Athens. This is especially useful in the workplace employers are always looking for better and more efficient ways to get work done. He then seduced Sinis daughter Perigone, who later gave birth to a son named Melanippus. As they wandered through the outskirts of Tartarus, Theseus sat down to rest on a rock. They make micro-judgments based on your handshake, clothes, and other non-verbal factors. Theseus, Tragedy, and the Athenian Empire. Ariadne is sometimes represented in vase-paintings with the thread wound on her. The Greek demi-god is known for feats of strength but is even better remembered for divine intelligence and wisdom. He suffers knowing he has caused his fathers death, and later, the death of his own son. Theseus escaped from the Labyrinth and killed the Minotaur. Pausanias, Life of Theseus 13. Best practices, research, and tools to fuel individual and business growth. Gantz, Timothy. In later times, some Athenians even traced the origins of democratic government to Theseus rule, even though Theseus was a king. Theseus left Helen in the care of his mother, Aethra, while he and Pirithous went to the Underworld to abduct Persephone. The earliest references to the hero come from the Iliad and the Odyssey, the Homeric epics of the early eighth century B.C. When King Minos heard what had befallen his son, he ordered the Cretan fleet to set sail for Athens. According to Plutarch's Life of Theseus, the ship Theseus used on his return from Minoan Crete to Athens was kept in the Athenian harbor as a memorial for several centuries. Heres how you can overcome a setback and find future success. When Theseus grew up to be a young man, he moved the rock and recovered his father's tokens. Thereupon the party with Pallas dispersed," Plutarch reported.[7]. Sensing Sciron's weakness, Theseus agreed and started washing the man's feet. You can avoid unflattering answers by focusing on weaknesses that show: Theres no template for crafting your response, but the following examples are strong building blocks that show our tips in action. I can feel timid when providing feedback to others. Why Is The Group Traveling To Canterbury? Aegeus revealed the prophecy to Pittheus, who understood its meaning and plied Aegeus with wine. The 2011 film Immortals is loosely based on the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur; Theseus is portrayed by Henry Cavill. Theseus helped battle these at Pirithous' wedding. Theseus. He was strong, courageous, and very wise. Forgetful. All Rights Reserved. While Theseus was away from Athens, Helens brothers, Castor and Polydeuces, retrieved her and took Aethra prisoner. At Eleusis, Theseus fought Cerycon, who challenged travellers to a wrestling match and killed whomever he defeated. With Phaedra, Theseus fathered Acamas, who was one of those who hid in the Trojan Horse during the Trojan War. [18], In yet another version, Phaedra simply told Theseus Hippolytus had raped her and did not kill herself. How do you spin a weakness into a strength? Palamon. The Amazons then attacked Athens in an attempt to get Antiope back. The most famous legend about Theseus is his slaying of the Minotaur, half man and half bull. Weakness definition, the state or quality of being weak; lack of strength, firmness, vigor, or the like; feebleness. While there, he fought and killed the Minotaur, a half-bull, half-man hybrid imprisoned in a maze called the Labyrinth. Titanium, an elemental metal, is named after the Titans, who were .