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Ashton Dickinson
Dr. Bianchelli
CLAS 1020H MWF 11:15
20 November 2014
The Different Interpretations of Theseus
The Greeks took pride in their artwork: depicting their gods, traditions and styles.
In this way we have learned much about what they held dear as well as which aspects of
their culture influence their daily lives most. Images date back millenniums and are
recorded proof of the life and culture of the Greek people.
Artistic source number 41 is a black-figure neck-amphora depicting the story of
Theseus retrieving the sandals and sword that his father King Ageas left for him many
years ago, after which he presents the objects proudly to his mother Aethra. The pottery
itself is garnished with gorgons running about as well as various animals accentuating the
vase’s shape as well as its main illustrations. Crafted between the years 625 and 575
A.D., this vase contains inscriptions including Herakles and Netos and also depicts
Herakles finding and killing Netos the centaur. When looking at the vase, there seems to
be cracks in the clay where it was at one point completely shattered and as a result once
glued back together. Unfortunately, some of these crevices distort the painted on stories
and images on the pottery. The attention to detail defining the lip of the vase and its
handles is exquisite. Owls and swans cover the handles from all angles. Dolphins and
geese are also apart of the elaborate design of this vase.
I believe the scene of Herakles and Netos painted on the vase is represented for
the purpose of linking Herakles’ strength and vigor that of the Greeks meant to spur on
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and encourage the Greek’s advancement and superiority of other nations. Netos upon
seeing Deianeira, Herakles wife, is overcome with passion and steals her. While
essentially trying to rape her, Netos is caught off guard as Herakles slaughters him.
Before he dies, Netos convinces Deianeira to take some of his blood and if Herakles ever
proves to be unfaithful put some on him to tame his attentions.
The story told on one side of this vase is that of Theseus and Aethra. Other
pottery reflects Theseus’s father hiding the sword and sandals beneath the large boulder
awaiting the day Theseus would have the strength and vigor to retrieve them. The way
this image is presented could look as if Theseus intends to do harm to his mother by
revealing a sword when in reality he’s excited to show his mother what he’s found. This
particular piece illustrates Aethra’s motherly instincts begging Theseus to stay and
remain safe from harm and the outside world while Theseus is determined to make his
way in the world and find his father. The images made to depict this story could change
the meaning if in fact Theseus did intend on hurting his mother; without the words
illustrations leave lots of room for interpretation and add-ons causing many possible
variations of the same incident. It is possible that the image did in fact mean to present
Theseus’s thirst of blood but not his mother’s. Medea, wife of Theseus’s biological
father Ageas, recognized Theseus immediately as the first son of her husband (as well as
Poseidon) upon his arrival to Athens. Fear that her own son would lose his claim to the
thrown after Ageas, Medea immediately sets out to kill Theseus. In hopes of making it
less messy and obvious that it was her own will that he die, Medea watches as Theseus
sets off to kill the Marathonian Bull, a task no normal human being should return alive
from. Defying logic and further proving his hero-like qualities, Theseus returns victorious
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still unknown to Ageas that he is his own flesh and blood. He finally becomes conscious
of this fact when Medea tries her last trick: poisoning his wine cup, Medea waits for
Theseus to drink and die until her husband foils the plan by noticing the sword and
sandals, knocking over the poisoned beverage, and claiming Theseus as his own. It could
be confused that in this image Theseus is actually defending himself from Medea.
I believe the story of Theseus and Aethra is represented on this vase which might
have been used for wine mixing at parties in order to draw a connection between the
Greeks lives and Theseus’ determination to set out into the world on his own despite the
forces beyond his control. In this way the Greeks idealized that they too were apart of
something greater.
Either way the story from the image chooses to come to life, I admire Theseus’s
determination and valiant strength shown when he sets out into the world uncertain of his
fate along with returning triumphantly from Medea’s impossible task. Theseus
throughout his myths consistently expresses his hero-like ability, which, in my opinion,
calls into question if Poseidon is in fact Theseus’s biological father. There isn’t enough
evidence but Theseus himself to determine definitely whether the truth is one way or
another. Had Poseidon claimed him as a son Theseus would have had a much different
destiny and may have not had the opportunity to be known as one of the greatest rulers
Athens has ever seen.