Pandion's son, Aegeus, ruled in Athens after he and his brothers expelled their relatives, the sons of Metion, from Attica, who had unlawfully seized power. For a long time Aegeus ruled happily. Only one thing saddened him: he did not have children. Finally, Aegeus went to the oracle of Apollo in Delphi and there he asked the luminous god why the gods did not send him children. The oracle gave Aegeus an unclear answer. He thought for a long time, trying to unravel the hidden meaning of the answer, but could not unravel it. Finally, Aegeus decided to go to the city of Troisenu to the wise king of Argolis Pittheus, so that he would unravel the secret of Apollo’s answer. Pitfey immediately guessed the meaning of the answer. He realized that Aegeus should have a son who would be the greatest hero of Athens. Pittheus wanted the honor of being the birthplace of the great hero to belong to Troisena. Therefore, he gave Aegeus his daughter Ephra as a wife. And then Efra, when she became the wife of Aegeus, had a son, but it was the son of the god Poseidon, not Aegeus. The newborn was given the name Theseus. Soon after the birth of Theseus, King Aegeus had to leave Troisena and return to Athens. When leaving, Aegeus took his sword and sandals, put them under a rock in the mountains near Troisena and said to Ephra:
“When my son Theseus is able to move this rock and get my sword and sandals, then send him with them to me in Athens.” I recognize him by my sword and sandals.
Until the age of sixteen, Theseus was raised in the house of his grandfather Pittheus. Pitfey, famous for his wisdom, took care of the upbringing of his grandson and rejoiced when he saw that his grandson was superior to his peers in everything. But Theseus turned sixteen years old; Even then no one could compare with him either in strength, or in dexterity, or in the ability to wield weapons. Theseus was beautiful: tall, slender, with the clear gaze of beautiful eyes, with dark curls that fell in lush rings to his shoulders; in front, on the forehead, the curls were cut off, since he dedicated them to Apollo; the hero's young, muscular body clearly spoke of his mighty strength.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru