Aigeus

Aigeus was the king of Athens. Pandion was the father of Aigeus, Pallas, Nisos, and Lykos. Metion took the kingdom from Pandion and when Pandion died Pallas, Nisos, Lykos, and Aigeus took control of Athens. Aigeus then took complete control of the kingdom of Athens and ruled as the king.

In the tragedy Medea written by Euripides, Aigeus is an old friend of Medea. Aigeus has come to visit Medea after leaving the oracle of Phoebus (651). The reason that he goes to the oracle is so that can learn how he can have children. Aigeus then proceeds to ask why Medea looks so sad. Medea explains how Jason has done her wrong by marrying the daughter of Kreon. Medea then begins to ask for Aigeus to take pity on her: “Have pity on me, have pity on your poor friend, and do not let me go into exile desolate but receive me in your land and at your very hearth” (695-696). Aigeus agrees do this if she will give him drugs that will help him bear children. After Aigeus appears to Medea her mood changes. Now that Aigeus has offered Medea a place to live she is no longer remorseful but now wants revenge.

Aigeus did not have any male children with his first wife, Meta. He married a second wife, Chalciope, in hopes of having an heir. An heir was not produced by either wife; therefore, Aigeus decided to go to Delphi to visit with the oracle and hopefully find out what was required for him to get an heir. The oracle tells Aigeus "to not loosen the hanging foot of the wine-skin" (Norton 656). Aigeus does not understand the meaning; he then travels to see Pittheus in Troezen. Pittheus is Aigeus's father-in-law and he is considered to be a righteous man(Norton 656). Aigeus travels through Corinth while on his way to Troezen and visits with Medea. Medea tells Aigeus how Jason has treated her and requests that Aigeus give her a haven of protection. Aigeus tells Medea what the oracle has told him and Medea tells Aigeus she can help him get male children. Aigeus tells Medea he will provide protection to her, but she has to reach Athens on her own accord (Norton 657).

The oracle's words are told to Pittheus and Pittheus then encourages Aigeus to drink to the extent that he becomes drunk (Thompson). In Aigeus's drunkenness, he has sexual intercourse with Pittheus's daughter, Aethra. Aigeus realizes what he has done and he puts his sandles, spear, and shield under a rock. Aigeus gives clear instructions to Aethra if she has a son. She is to wait until the boy is old enough to lift the rock, he is then to be told that Aigeus is his father, and he must travel in secrecy to Athens.

Aethra gives birth to a son and he is given the name Theseus. Theseus reaches the age to lift the rock and he is told about his heritage. Theseus travels to Athens as he has been instructed. During this time Medea has committed her crimes and has escaped to Athens (Lucas). Medea marries Aigeus and gives him a son, Medus. Medea tries to convince Aigeus that Theseus is an enemy to the kingdom and he must be destroyed. Aigeus gives Theseus a drink laced with posion. Theseus lifts the drink to his lips when Aigeus recognizes the sword and he pushes the drink from his lips. Father and son are united. Medea and Medus are kicked out of the kingdom.

The sons of Pallas war with Theseus when they realize he is the heir to the throne; regardless, Theseus has victory over his enemies. He then goes to destroy the Minotaur and he tells his father he will display a white sail to show his victory when he returns, but he forgets to change the sail. Aigeus sees the black sail when the ship approaches and assumes his son has died. Aigeus commits suicide by jumping into the sea thus named the Aegean Sea after Aigeus(Oldaker).

Works Cited

Medea. Trans. Rex Warner. The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces. Ed. Sarah Lawall. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1999.

Thompson, Martha. "Aegeus".Patheon.org. 10 Apr 2005. [1]

Lucas, Gerald."Euripdes' Medea: Patriarchial Terrorism". 13 Oct 2003. Litmuse. Macon State College. 10 Apr 2005. [2]

Oldaker, Randy A. "Aegeus, Thespis, Archemedes, Thales".West Virginia U. 10 Apr 2005. [3]

Parada, Carlos. "Aegeus 1".Greek Mythology Link.10 Apr 2005. [4]