Mysterious Disappearance Of King Aegeus Of Athens After His Wedding

A. Sutherland  - AncientPages.com - Once,  a young and brave king Aegeus lived in the little town of Athens. At that time, the city was not as prominent and famous as later myths, legends, and historical records described it.

A strong fleet was needed to protect small cities against danger coming from pirates. Athens had no fleet to put these intruders down.

Left: Partenon, a former templ on the Athenian Acropolis, Greece, that was dedicated
to the goddess Athena during the fifth century BC. Image credit: Pixabay; Right: Theseus, part of an Amazonomachy, pediment of the temple of Apollo Sosianus in Rome. Parian marble, ca. 425–420 BC. Photographer: Marie-Lan Nguyen (User:Jastrow) 2009 - CC BY 2.5

However, it had a safe location against active pirates who were busy plundering merchant ships, robbing cities, kidnapping men, women, and children, and selling them as enslaved people.

King Aegeus of Athens desperately needed to find a wife. The finding was not a problem. He was already married twice, but he still had no male heir, so he wanted to be sure that his next wife would give him sons to succeed him. So many misfortunes happen to kings who have no children.

According to Pausanias of the second century AD, Aegeus blamed this misfortune on the goddess Aphrodite's anger. To appease her, he introduced her worship as Aphrodite Urania in Athens, but how could she help him? Perhaps, the goddess could assure him that his third wife would bring a son to his family.

Could gods and goddesses solve such family problems?

Aegeus made his decision. At that time, there were many temples dedicated to various gods across Greece, at which it was supposed that men might receive answers to their questions.

The temple of Apollo at Pytho, or Delphi, located northwest of  Athens, was the most famous in Greece. The place – with a deep ravine of a steep mountain - was widely associated with the god Apollo who shot a monstrous dragon with his arrows. People from far away came to consult her, giving the wealthiest presents to the priests. He decided to ask the oracle at Delphi for advice.

Would he have sons to come after him? Perhaps the oracle could give him such an answer?

Aethra Showing her Son Theseus the Place Where his Father had Hidden his Arms by Nicolas-Guy Brenet (1768). Public Domain

The temple was full of silver and gold cups and bowls, and its chambers were packed with more beautiful treasures than one can find in the wealthiest treasure houses of the kings.

Aegeus Travels To Delphi To Ask His Most Vital Question

He did not tell his people about his secret trip to Delphi. He decided to travel at night and without a servant. He left the kingdom to be governed by his brother Pallas. He reached Delphi in his chariot and brought only a small offering - a small cup of silver - to the temple's priests. They did not even know who Aegeus was, as he was not wearing his royal dress. He reached Delphi's sacred area in perfect disguise. He told the priests he was a follower of Peleus,  King of Phthia.

In answer to his question, the Delphi maiden sang in verse two mysterious lines:

"The bulging mouth of the wineskin, o best of men, loose not until thou hast reached the height of Athens." It was her answer to Aegeus's question.

He was pretty puzzled and disappointed because he did not understand it.

On his way home to Athens, the king decided to ask Pittheus, the wise ruler of Troezen, if he would help him decipher the Oracle's confusing reply.

Pittheus did not know the true identity of Aegeus, as the king of Athens hid his true identity. However, he understood the message given to Aegeus at Delphi. He decided to take advantage of this unusual opportunity. He saw a handsome young man of noble birth, who had already met Pittheus' beautiful daughter Aethra, and the two fell in love with each other and wished to be married.

According to tradition, the bridegroom should pay the price (in cattle) to the bride's father, but Aegeus did not have any cattle to give. If the lover did some courageous and helpful deeds, it was also the custom to reward him with his lady's hand, and Aegeus had his opportunity. At the time, a fleet of pirates attacked the town of Troezene, and Aegeus successfully led the men of Pittheus against the pirates and defeated them.

Theseus was recognized by his father, 1832, Bordeaux, Museum of Fine Arts – Image credit: VladoubidoOo - CC BY-SA 3.0

Some of their ships - full of gold and other treasures – were also captured, and Aegeus paid the bride price and married Aethra.

They Were All Very Happy, But For How Long?

Soon,  Aegeus became worried about his kingdom, for he heard that his brother Pallas was governing improperly. He also began to be tired of Aethra. In some versions, Aethra being with Aegeus, had some sex with Poseidon on the island of Sphairia.

When she became pregnant, Aegeus decided to return to Athens. It was time to leave Aethra.

He talked about a dangerous journey, which he was obliged to make for personal reasons, and from which he might never return alive.

Before leaving, he buried his sandal, shield, and sword under a huge rock and told Aethra that when their son grew up, he should move the stone and bring the weapons to his father, who would acknowledge him.

"The time is coming," said Aegeus, "when you and I must part, and only the gods can tell when we shall meet again! It may be that you will bear a child,  and if he is a boy when he has come to his strength, you must lead him to this great stone and let no man or woman be there but you two only. You must then bid him roll away the stone, and if he has no strength to raise it, so must it be. But if he can roll it away, let him take such things as he finds  there, and let him consider them well, and do what the gods put into his  heart."

On the dawn of the third night after this day, Aegeus disappeared, and he was never seen again in Troezene.

Nine months later, Aethra gave birth to a beautiful child, a son - Theseus. We'll never know if the child's father was Aegeus or the god Poseidon.

When Theseus grew up, he found his father's belongings left for him and went to Athens to claim his birthright.

Aegeus recognized him as his son by his sword, shield, and sandals.

Written by – A. Sutherland  - AncientPages.com Senior Staff Writer

Updated on January 8, 2023

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