The Great Greek Myths | Theseus: The Ravages of Oversight (Episode 5)

Episode 5: Theseus was the fruit of dual paternity: Aegeus King of Athens slept with Aethra when she had just been raped by Poseidon, God of the Sea. Theseus, who grew into a strong, brave man, had a double lineage - both divine and royal.

Unsurprisingly, once he was old enough to fight, he decided to leave for Crete to take on the terrible Minotaur, which devoured 14 young Athenians a year, delivered to Minos, King of Crete. The Minotaur, one of the best known figures in Greek mythology, was a veritable Monster, born from the forbidden union of Minos’ wife Pasiphaë and a white bull. He was enclosed in a labyrinth built by the inventor Daedalus. Theseus killed the Minotaur thanks to his courage - but also thanks to Ariadne, King Minos’ daughter, who gave him the means to leave the labyrinth in the form of a ball of thread. But Theseus’ great courage did not stop him from neglecting his duties. Carried along by his victory, he committed a few irreversible oversights, which led to tragedy.