Theseus The King

Kings, by the definition from Merriam-Webster, are male sovereign heads of state who legitimize their rule through claims of divinity and shared blood relationship with their predecessor. Tyrants, on the other hand, punish their subjects in order to maintain their power and override any means of change that would challenge their reign. However, both, whether real or legend, find their way in Greek mythology and culture as well as Roman mythology and culture, at times playing key roles, with some portrayed as tyrannical kings. Yet, Theseus and Romulus were two particular king figures who shared very little traits with that of the tyrannical figure, but instead were more like kings who symbolized that of a hero figure. Thus, it can then be suggested
For instance, when Theseus came upon a heavy rock, he “put his shoulder to the rock and raised it with ease” (Edwards 9). This showcased a physical strength, one myths like to showcase for a hero in their stories. Moreover, it showed that any obstacles in Theseus’s way would be handled accordingly and by conquering the rock so easily, it improved Theseus’s own confidence and determination, two more qualities likened to heroes. Furthermore, Theseus showed bravery when presented a “lion skin while at the table” (Edwards 9) as while other youths “ran in fear” (Edwards 9), “Theseus snatched an axe from the servants and tried to kill it” (Edwards 9). Also, Theseus’s journey to Athens help shape a toughened, more hardened Theseus as he defeated and killed “Periphetes, the club-bearer who tried to bar his way” (Edwards 12) and “took his club as his own weapon”(Edwards 12). This episode showed that Theseus was intelligent but also a great figure, as by ridding Periphetes, he was able to clear the path for any other potential travelers to not worry about such a villainous man. Moreover, intelligent in that he was smart enough to realize that by taking Periphetes’s club, he was taking advantage of the situation and making himself more advantageous for future battles than merely one with his bare hands. Theseus was also witty, as twice he ridded the world of
For instance, Romulus initially failed to establish the strengthening of his kingdom’s numbers by inter-marriage. However, he was witty and cunning enough to use a festival to bring people to his kingdom, where he had women marry his male subjects, allowing his empire a better chance at survival by producing children. Thus, Romulus was seen as a normal human being even as a king, drawing a greater appeal to people as he became more like the common man and less like this powerful god-like