Theseus The Plutarch Podcast

Although Theseus never actually existed, Plutarch, in documenting his life, wants to cull important lessons for Greeks and Romans. Just as Theseus wrestles with villains threatening civilization, Plutarch forces his readers to grapple with the role of virtue in politics, or, less abstractly, the role the virtuous man has to play in his polis: i.e. how to be a citizen rather than a subject. This becomes explicit at the end of Theseus's life when he ceases to be a good king and becomes a tyrant, stripping citizenship from the Athenians by returning them to subjugation under a king. 
Historical Context - Emergence from the Dark Ages
Bronze-Age to Iron Age transition:Dark Ages:What were they?Bronze Age civilizations:EgyptHittitesSumer/Akkad/BabyloniansMinoans and Myceneans (Aegean)Middle Period:As most major civilizations in decline, the smaller civilizations seem to rise and fill in the gaps:PhoeniciansHebrewsArameansPhilistinesFor the Greeks, though, they lose writing and reading and see a mass exodus from the old urban centers of Mycenean Greece.Iron Age civilizations:Neo-AssyriansNeo-BabyloniansPersiansGreeksRomansEtc…Outline
ParentageComes of ageDelphiTheseus’s haircutSword and Sandals under a rockSea = safeLand = dangerousTheseus personally cleans up the land around the Saronic Gulf@ Epidaurus (wins his club)On the isthmus of CorinthCrommyonian SowWrestles near EleusisProcrustesCf. Hercules and how he killed his monsters and fiendsTheseus receives first real hospitality at the Cephisus River, just outside of AthensArrival in AthensMedea!? Poison!?Recognition and InheritanceRevolt!First battle in Athens (neighborhoods named)Bull of MarathonTheseus and the MinotaurPlague and ExpiationThe most “likely” (common?) storyWas Minos good/bad?Why does Plutarch have to defend Minos?Alternative storiesVary by geographic regionReturn: the sail!Philosophical Problems: The Ship of TheseusTheseus unites Athens and AtticaCentralizes authorityInstitutes common feastsOscophoriaPanathenaic FestivalEstablishes three classes of citizen:NoblesCraftsmenFarmersGives nobles most power over law and religionOpens Athens as a “commonwealth of all nations” (cf. Romulus welcoming refugees)The many other adventures of TheseusThe AmazonsSource for Shakespeare’s Hippolyta and Theseus in Midsummer Night’s Dream?Second battle in Athens, more neighborhoods namedFalse marriagesFalse adventuresTheseus did NOT participate inJason and the ArgonautsMeleager and the Boar (cf. Iliad Book 9; Ovid Metamorphoses Bk. 7/8)Seven Against ThebesHis friendship with PerithousDid involve him in the battle of the Lapiths and CentaursSeizure of HelenEnds up in prison to the King of MolossusHeracles frees himTheseus returns to AthensCastor and Polluxbrothers of Helen and mythical Spartanscausing trouble in AthensTheseus curses the Athenians, giving them what they want (deserve?)Flees to the Support the show