Editing Theseus (section)

==Medea, the Marathonian Bull, Androgeus, and the Pallantides==
[[File:Kylix 57.1.jpg|thumb|Silver [[kylix]] with Theseus and the Marathon bull, 445–440 BC, part of the Vassil Bojkov collection, [[Sofia]], [[Bulgaria]]]]
When Theseus arrived in Athens, he did not reveal his true identity immediately. [[Aegeus]] gave him hospitality but was suspicious of the young, powerful stranger's intentions. Aegeus's consort [[Medea]] recognized Theseus immediately as Aegeus' son and worried that Theseus would be chosen as heir to Aegeus' kingdom instead of her son [[Medus]]. She tried to arrange to have Theseus killed by asking him to capture the [[Cretan Bull|Marathonian Bull]], an emblem of Cretan power.

[[File:Kylix Aisón Teseo (M.A.N. Madrid) 04.jpg|thumb|right|220px|upright=1.3|Theseus captures the [[Cretan Bull|Marathonian Bull]] (kylix painted by [[Aison (vase painter)|Aison]], 5th century BC)]]

On the way to [[Marathon, Greece|Marathon]], Theseus took shelter from a storm in the hut of an ancient woman named [[Hecale]]. She swore to make a sacrifice to [[Zeus]] if Theseus were successful in capturing the bull. Theseus did capture the bull, but when he returned to Hecale's hut, she was dead. In her honor, Theseus gave her name to one of the [[deme]]s of Attica, making its inhabitants in a sense her adopted children.

When Theseus returned victorious to Athens, where he sacrificed the Bull, Medea tried to poison him. At the last second, Aegeus recognized the sandals and the sword and knocked the poisoned wine cup from Theseus's hands. Thus father and son were reunited, and Medea fled to [[Anatolia|Asia]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Medea {{!}} Characteristics, Family, & Plays|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Medea-Greek-mythology|access-date=27 April 2021|website=Encyclopædia Britannica|language=en}}</ref>

When Theseus appeared in the town, his reputation had preceded him, as a result of his having traveled along the notorious coastal road from Troezen and slain some of the most feared bandits there. It was not long before the [[Pallantides]]' hopes of succeeding the childless Aegeus would be lost if they did not get rid of Theseus (the Pallantides were the sons of [[Pallas (son of Pandion)|Pallas]] and nephews of King [[Aegeus]], who was then living at the royal court in the sanctuary of Delphic Apollo).<ref>{{cite Plutarch|Theseus|12}}</ref> So they set a trap for him. One band of them would march on the town from one side while another lay in wait near a place called Gargettus in ambush. The plan was that after Theseus, Aegeus, and the palace guards had been forced out the front, the other half would surprise them from behind. However, Theseus was not fooled. Informed of the plan by a herald named Leos, he crept out of the city at midnight and surprised the Pallantides. "Theseus then fell suddenly upon the party lying in ambush, and slew them all. Thereupon the party with Pallas dispersed," Plutarch reported.<ref>{{cite Plutarch|Theseus|13}}</ref>