Mythology Meets History, Theseus as an Athenian Politician & Generally Awful Guy

Season 5 // Episode 401

This episode originally aired on July 12, 2022. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Get ad-free episodes and so, so much more, by subscribing to the Oracle Edition at patreon.com/mythsbaby

That's right, we're returning to the story of Theseus because there is still more to that oh-so-problematic man! The myths of Theseus are uniquely Athenian, means of tying mythological heroes with Athenian might and the larger mythological history of Homeric tradition. (Begs the question, why did they have stories of him being quite so messy?!)

CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing.

Sources: Plutarch's Life of Theseus; Early Greek Myths by Timothy Gantz.

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