Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
5. THE TRIAL OF ORESTES
Orestes, after murdering his mother, Klytemnestra (to avenge her murder of his fath-
er, Agammemnon), was pursued to Athens by the Furies (underworld goddesses of
vengeance). Athena decreed that instead of being killed, Orestes should stand trial.
He was acquitted, and the trial marked a turning point in Athens, from blood feuds
to rule of law.
6. ATHENA AND ARACHNE
As goddess of spinning and weaving, Athena decided to help a poor but talented
weaver called Arachne. Arachne won great admiration but took all the praise without
crediting the goddess, and so Athena challenged her protégé to a weaving contest.
Arachne's work depicted the inappropriate love affairs of the gods; Athena, furious
with indignation, turned Arachne into the first spider.
7. THESEUS'S ARRIVAL IN ATHENS
Theseus, son of Athens' King Aegeus, was secretly raised far from court. At 16, armed
with a sword left by his father, Theseus left for Athens, en route slaying dozens of
monsters terrorizing Attica. He became Athens' greatest king and hero.
8. THESEUS KILLS THE MINOTAUR
After a dispute between Aegeus and his brother Minos, King of Crete, Minos deman-
ded Athens send regular tributes of 14 youths and maidens, who were sacrificed to
the monstrous Minotaur. One year, Theseus asked to be sent and, with the help of
Minos's daughter, Ariadne, he killed the Minotaur, saving hundreds of future Atheni-
ans.
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9. THE DEATH OF AEGEUS
Theseus had told his father that if his quest to kill the Minotaur was successful, he'd
change his ship's sails from black to white on his return. But, after all the excitement,
he forgot. When Aegeus, watching out for the ship from Sounio, saw the black sails,
he was stricken with grief and plunged to his death in the sea (now called the Ae-
gean).
