Greek mythology · hero · civilizing strength, Athens
Athens' national hero, who cleared the coast road of brigands, entered the Labyrinth, and killed the Minotaur, escaping by Ariadne's thread, then abandoning her on Naxos. As king he unified Attica; as a man he kept breaking what he saved.
Athens pays Minos a tribute of youths to feed the bull-headed thing in Daedalus's Labyrinth. Theseus enters as tribute; Ariadne's thread leads him through the dark, and he kills the Minotaur at its heart. He sails home with her, and leaves her sleeping on Naxos.