McGraw©Hill/Focus/Theseus p. 169////R7N11/ ***** The Greek hero Theseus had many adventures, not just one,

and was famous for his character as much as for his achievements.

Theseus was a wise, just ruler. He therefore stood for something

which the Greeks greatly admired. This is the best of the many

stories about him. Theseus was brought up by his mother, Aethra, in her

father's palace in the little kingdom of Troezen. It was a

quiet, pleasant household, where the boy learned to associate

kindness and justice with the office of a king. Aethra saw to it

that he was educated in running, jumping, wrestling, throwing the

discus and javelin, boxing, swordplay, and all the skills of a

prince. He was taught also to love poetry and music. Wandering

minstrels came to the palace singing of the great deeds of old.

At the same time they brought news of the world as it was then,

of greater kingdoms less pleasantly ruled than Troezon, of

lawlessness, robbery, injustice, and of the heroes of Theseus's

own time who fought against these evils. Aethra encouraged her

son to listen, for she said he was a great prince and must take

thought for these things. Yet when the boy asked her of his

father, she would tell him nothing. She always answered that he

must be patient until the time came for him to learn the truth. The years went by and the boy became a youth fired with

ambition to be worthy of a great destiny.