1.4 Myth and the City
Greece
The Theseus Kylix (p. 70)
This shows several of Theseus’ adventures.
Ariadne (p. 73) was abandoned by Theseus on the Island of Naxos. The ancient author Plutarch discusses several of the reasons that suggest why Theseus may have done this. Click here to read this.
The Minotaur (p. 73) is shown in the centre of the kylix. Click here to watch a clip on the episode with the Minotaur. The clip is about starts with an introduction to Athens and pottery, the story of Theseus begins at 8 minutes. Click here to watch a video on the Minotaur from the History Channel.
(S&C) Euripides (p. 75) wrote the tragedy Heracles in the late 5th Century BC. At the end of the play Theseus arrives to Heracles’ home to find Heracles weeping over the dead bodies of his family. Theseus then tried to comfort the hero. Click here to read the scene (Euripides, Heracles 1167-1427).
Rome
(S&C) Virgil (p. 78)
Virgil wrote about the fall of Troy in the Aeneid. Click here to read it (Virgil, Aeneid 2.228-804).
Romulus (p. 79)
Romulus was considered the founder of Rome. Click here for a discussion of what the myth of Romulus and Remus meant to the Romans.
Comparing Greece and Rome
(Stretch and Challenge)
Plutarch’s comparison of Theseus and Romulus was based on Plutarch’s longer Life of Theseus, and Life of Plutarch. Students could be asked to read sections of these works in order to gain a more detailed contemporary account of the two men’s lives.
Click here to read Plutarch, Life of Theseus.
Click here to read Plutarch, Life of Romulus.
Each Life can be divided into the sections below:
| Section from the Life |
|
| Theseus | Romulus |
| Parentage | 3-4 | 3 |
| Youth | 5-7 | 4-6 |
| Warrior deeds | 8-21 | 7-8, 16-25 |
| Death of a family member | 22-23 | 8 |
| Founding of a city or unification | 24-25 | 9-13 |
| Abduction of women | 26-31 | 14-15 |
| Downfall and death | 32-36 | 26-29 |
Teachers can read a more detailed analysis of these two Lives in an article by D.H.J Larmour:
Lamour, D.H.J (1988), 'Plutarch's Compositional Methods in the Theseus and Romulus' in Transactions of the American Philological Association, Vol. 118, pp. 361-375.
This article can be read online by registering for free as an individual member with JSTOR.
Click here for the article link.
