Theseus is the major antagonist in the video game, God of War II. 423 BCE), where he helps retrieve and bury the bodies of the Argive heroes killed in the failed war of the Seven against Thebes.. Roman mosaic of Phaedra and Hippolytus at House of Dionysus, Cyprus (ca. The Youthful Deeds of Theseus. Make clear your disorganization doesn't significantly impact your work, but it interferes with your environment just enough to require attention. He then goes on to unite Attica under Athenian rule: the synoikismos ('dwelling together'). 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 and nephews of King Aegeus, who was then living at the royal court in the sanctuary of Delphic Apollo). Instead of travelling to Athens by sea, Theseus decided to make a name for himself by taking the more dangerous overland route through the Greek Isthmus. But Aegeus recognized Theseus by the sword he was carrying (the sword he had left with Aethra at Troezen) and stopped him from drinking the poison. Accessed on 2 Mar. Hades put him in his chair of forgetfulness, where his mind would go blank and they could not move. Theseus took part in several other adventures. This attempt failed, however, and after Theseus killed the sons of Pallas he was secured as the heir to the throne of Athens.[4]. His downfall at the hands of Aphrodite is most famously recounted by the . With careful preparation, you can navigate these questions by pivoting to your strengths and emphasizing your value to the company. Magic sorceress who after fleeing Corinth, became the wife of Aegeus but he later drove her away after she unsuccessfully attempted . Theseus killed Procrustes by putting him on one of his beds, cutting off his legs, and then decapitating him. What would you consider Theseus tragic flaw Why? Rose, H. J. When responding to What are your weaknesses? best answers include: I can sometimes be impatient when working with others. According to Homers version, which is completely different, Ariadne was killed by Artemis at Dionysus behest while Theseus was carrying her back to Athens (Homer, Odyssey 11.321325). Theseus's Strengths: Brave, strong, clever, good with disguise. He then goes on to unite Attica under Athenian rule: the synoikismos ('dwelling together'). DE | Discover how your life can change after finding what you love and learning to love what you do. This job interview question is an opportunity to make yourself stand out and highlight your soft skills while communicating your ability to self-regulate and grow.Recognize that every weakness is an opportunity for improvement. A cult grew up around Hippolytus, associated with the cult of Aphrodite. In another version, King Minos had waged war with the Athenians and was successful. Persephone is, after all, a married goddess, and so Theseus behaviour towards her would not only have been considered immoral but also impious (Diod. Heracles also visited the underworld, but it was to fulfill one of the Herculean labors. Unfortunately, this poem only survives in fragments. The fourth and tenth letters of Ovids epistolary Heroides are also addressed to Theseus: in Heroides 4, Phaedra confesses her infatuation with Theseus son Hippolytus, and in Heroides 10, Ariadne reproaches Theseus for deserting her on Naxos. They like the biggest weakness interview question because your answer says a lot about your work values. To ensure that she would die with dignity, Phaedra wrote to Theseus on a tablet claiming that Hippolytus had raped her before hanging herself. He worked hard to protect Athens and helped develop their power structure. While among the Amazons, Theseus fell in love with their queen, Antiope (sometimes called Hippolyta),[8] and carried her off with him to Athens. Difficulty delegating can be a weakness for many employeesespecially as they progress in their careers and have more people to delegate to. He was raised by his mother, Aethra, and, upon discovering his connection to Aegeus, travels overland to Athens, having many adventures on the way. Take a hard look at your skills and past experiences. The cult believed that Asclepius had resurrected Hippolytus and that he lived in a sacred forest near Aricia in Latium. What are your weaknesses? The Greek demi-god is known for feats of strength but is even better remembered for divine intelligence and wisdom. Neils, Jenifer. Mythology // Olympians - Symbols. Being honest doesnt mean listing every mistake in your career. Will you lose your job in a recession? They then decided the task was beyond any hero and left. [Last Chance] Hear from industry leaders bringing you cutting-edge insights to transform your workforce. But where she obstinately disdains to make herself credible, and refuses to admit any element of probability, I shall pray for kindly readers, and such as receive with indulgence the tales of antiquity." Theseus, Tragedy, and the Athenian Empire. Theseus weakness was that he liked danger. Theseus successfully retrieved these tokens and left for Athens to find his father. The earliest references to the hero come from the Iliad and the Odyssey, the Homeric epics of the early eighth century B.C. According to some traditions, Theseus actually volunteered to go to Crete, vowing that he would kill the Minotaur and bring an end to the terrible tribute once and for all. According to some versions of the story, Hippolytus had scorned Aphrodite to become a follower of Artemis, so Aphrodite made Phaedra fall in love with him as punishment. As an old man, Theseus fell out of favor in Athens. Aegeus, who was the king of Athens, had no children and therefore no heir to his throne. So Theseus was restored to the upper air but Pirithous never left the kingdom of the dead, for when Heracles tried to free Pirithous, the underworld shook. Theseus is sometimes described as the son of Aegeus, King of Athens, and sometimes as the son of the god Poseidon. 1848 writing an article about the At BetterUp, our coaches are trained to offer you tailored career advice based on your strengths, weaknesses, and aspirations. Pausanias, Life of Theseus 13. Ive since added more structure to my day and installed a hard cut-off hour when Im done with work. Morford, Mark P. O., Robert J. Lenardon, and Michael Sham. But Ive realized my bluntness can make my direct reports uncomfortable when I give feedback. Ares gave Hippolyta a gift of a magical belt that would grant her the title of Queen of the Amazons in the city of Themiskyra, near the Black Sea. Learn more about our mission. There he persuaded Persephone to forgive him for the part he had taken in the rash venture of Pirithous. Her cryptic words were "Do not loosen the bulging mouth of the wineskin until you have reached the height of Athens, lest you die of grief." When he reaches Athens, he finds that Aegeus is married to Medea (formerly wife of Jason), who plots against him. The Death of Hippolytus, by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1836-1912) In Greek mythology, Hippolytus ( Greek: , Hippolytos 'unleasher of horses'; / hplts /) [1] is the son of Theseus and either Hippolyta or Antiope. effects of the convention. Build leaders that accelerate team performance and engagement. Oxford: Clarendon, 1997. Instead, describe a different weakness that emphasizes your desire to be even better in your role. He made them fit his bed with a hammer or saw. Soon after his arrival in Athens, Theseus sailed off as one of the fourteen tributes dedicated to the Minotaur. See also: Lucky in War, Unlucky in Love: Theseus. On the war between the Athenians and the Amazons, see also Isocrates, Panegyricus 42, 68, 70, Areopagiticus 75, and Panathenaicus 193; Pausanias, Description of Greece 1.41.7, 2.32.9, 5.11.4, and 5.11.7. Ariadne is sometimes represented in vase-paintings with the thread wound on her. Read this guide and learn how to negotiate like a pro. There he persuaded Persephone to forgive him for the part he had taken in the rash venture of Pirithous. Later, according to the command of the Delphic oracle, the Athenian general Cimon fetched the bones of Theseus from Scyros and laid them in Attic earth. In other versions, Theseus tried to abandon Antiope so that he could marry Phaedra, a princess from Crete; when the jilted Antiope tried to stop the wedding, Theseus killed her himself. Theseus sailed to Crete, where he met Ariadne, one of Minos' daughters, and she and Daedalus found a way to get Theseus back out of the Labyrinth: he would bring a ball of yarn, tie one end to the door of the great maze and, once he had killed the Minotaur, he would follow the thread back to the door. These and some other versions are listed by Plutarch (Life of Theseus 20.15). Hoping to remedy this, Aegeus went to Delphi, where he received a strange prophecy: The bulging mouth of the wineskin, O best of men, loose not until thou hast reached the height of Athens.[1]. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. After a while, the brave youth finally found Minotaur in his lair. His retribution was to stipulate that at the end of every Great Year, which occurred after every seven cycles on the solar calendar, the seven most courageous youths and the seven most beautiful maidens were to board a boat and be sent as tribute to Crete, never to be seen again. The Lapiths won the ensuing battle. We fear the challenges he faces- Minotaurs, bandits, becoming trapped in Hades- as well as his foolishness. He is credited as a creator of democracy because he gave up some of his powers to the Assembly. This is something he will never recover from and builds his catharsis. Medea fled into exile. Well teach you how to introduce yourself so you leave a positive, professional impression. Self-awareness, resilience, and humility are some of the best traits you can possess as a worker. While there, he fought and killed the Minotaur, a half-bull, half-man hybrid imprisoned in a maze called the Labyrinth. He rejected her out of chastity. Ovid: Theseus major exploits, including his battle with the Minotaur and his involvement in the Calydonian Boar Hunt, are treated in Book 8 of Ovids famous epic the Metamorphoses (ca. This is especially useful in the workplace employers are always looking for better and more efficient ways to get work done. Some ancient authorities, however, report that the sixth-century BCE poet Simonides called her Hippolyta (Plutarch, Life of Theseus 27; Apollodorus, Epitome 1.16). Whether distracted by the loss of Ariadne or for some other reason, Theseus forgot to raise the white flag as he came back to Athens. According to some sources, the sons of Pallas only attacked Theseus after he had ascended to the throne. In one famous tradition, Theseus and Pirithous both vowed to marry daughters of Zeus. Hyginus, Fabulae: A Latin mythological handbook (first or second century CE) that includes sections on the myths of Theseus. After decapitating the beast, Theseus used the string to escape the Labyrinth and managed to escape with all of the young Athenians and Ariadne as well as her younger sister Phaedra. When Theseus returned victorious to Athens, where he sacrificed the Bull, Medea tried to poison him. Mark Cartwright (CC BY-NC-SA) In Greek mythology, the Minotaur was a monster with the body of a man and the head and tail of a bull. In other stories, Medea tried to poison Theseus. Theseus was the son of Aethra, the daughter of King Pittheus of Troezen, and either Aegeus or Poseidon. When it goes off, I know its time to get back to work. Achilles is killed by an arrow, shot by the Trojan prince Paris. Sophocles: Theseus is a major character in Sophocles Oedipus at Colonus (ca. See also Diodorus of Sicily, Library of History 4.61.5; Pausanias, Description of Greece 1.20.3, 10.29.4; Catullus, Ode 64.116ff; Ovid, Heroides 10; Ovid, Art of Love 1.527ff; Ovid, Metamorphoses 8.174ff; Apollodorus, Epitome 1.9; Hyginus, Fabulae 43. Aegeus then slept with Pittheus daughter Aethra. It's important that my team feels supported and appreciated, so I've been reading up on mentorship and giving clear feedback to ensure they're becoming their best selves.". London: Pall Mall Press, 1970. The festival of Theseus, called the Theseia, was celebrated in Athens in the autumn. Olympians AphroditeApolloAresArtemisAthenaHadesHephaestusHeraHermesHestiaPoseidonZeusAll Olympians Titans AsteriaAstraeusAtlasClymeneCoeusCriusCronusDioneEosEpimetheusEurybiaEurynomeAll Titans Theseus's Strengths: Brave, strong, clever, good with disguise. If the traveller was too tall to fit in the bed, Procrustes would cut off their limbs; if they were too short, he would stretch them until they fit. As a young girl, she was carried off by Theseus, but she was rescued by her brothers. In this answer, you acknowledge how bluntness can make you a better communicator in the workplace in some contexts while demonstrating an understanding of when its better left out. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(9253440, '05d3a1ec-acc5-4bff-9847-d33dd047e446', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); English | He took the place of one of the youths and set off with a black sail, promising to his father, Aegeus, that if successful he would return with a white sail. Here, you turn your weakness into a strength without becoming a clich. few sentences explaining why the [13] Little else is known of the festivals or worship of Theseus. FR. Who Is The Famous King In Canterbury Tales? Predictably, this did not end well. However, Theseus was not fooled. But, as you acknowledge in your answer, it ultimately does more harm than good. See more. [2] In any case, Theseus grew up to be a strong and intelligent young man. Its important they know you can take care of yourself. convention met. If he managed to lift it and retrieve the tokens, he should be sent to Athens. Theseus's Weaknesses: May have been a bit deceptive with Ariadne. Forgetful. Theseus was furious and prayed to Poseidon that Hippolytus might be punished. Theseus was a well-respected Greek hero. While Theseus was away from Athens, Helens brothers, Castor and Polydeuces, retrieved her and took Aethra prisoner. (Plutarch, Life of Theseus). The early modern name Theseion (Temple of Theseus) was mistakenly applied to the Temple of Hephaestus which was thought to be the actual site of the hero's tomb. Smith, William. In some stories, he was thrown from a cliff by Lycomedes, the king of Scyrus. But following the instructions of Athena in a dream, Aethra left the sleeping Aegeus and waded across to the island of Sphairia that lay close to Troezen's shore. Theseus helped battle these at Pirithous' wedding. Career breaks dont carry the same stigma as before, but they still come with some risks. Aegeus gave him hospitality but was suspicious of the young, powerful stranger's intentions. The Minotaur was the offspring of the Cretan Queen Pasiphae and a majestic bull. [v] Like the others, Theseus was stripped of his weapons when they sailed. Theseus's Weaknesses: May have been a bit deceptive with Ariadne. Write a For example: "I'm always trying to be a better leader. In 475 BCE, in response to an oracle, Cimon of Athens, having conquered Skyros for the Athenians, identified as the remains of Theseus "a coffin of a great corpse with a bronze spear-head by its side and a sword." Graves, Robert. Byron Almen, Dorothy Payne, Stefan Kostka, The Language of Composition: Reading, Writing, Rhetoric, Lawrence Scanlon, Renee H. Shea, Robin Dissin Aufses, John Lund, Paul S. Vickery, P. Scott Corbett, Todd Pfannestiel, Volker Janssen, Eric Hinderaker, James A. Henretta, Rebecca Edwards, Robert O. Self, Scholastic Bowl Roman Emperors and Greek Myth. Theseus believed her and used one of the three wishes he had received from Poseidon against his son. When King Minos heard what had befallen his son, he ordered the Cretan fleet to set sail for Athens. Choose the best answer for the question below. The name Theseus was likely derived from the Greek word (thesmos), which means institution. Theseus name thus reflects his mythical role as a founder or reformer of the Athenian government. Sic. Franais, EN | Lycomedes of the island of Skyros threw Theseus off a cliff after he had lost popularity in Athens. Poseidon, unfortunately, heard Theseus prayer and sent a bull from the sea to charge Hippolytus as he was riding his chariot near the coast. Ovid, Heroides 4.11720; Hyginus, Fabulae 241. Theseus killed Sinis using this same method. But statements like Im a perfectionist and Sometimes I work too hard are clich at best and disingenuous at worst. Emelye. Phaedra tried to convince Hippolytus to sleep with her. Its normal to have slow or unproductive days at work. 2023. Theyll also ask you about your weaknesses. Minotaur, Greek Minotauros ("Minos's Bull"), in Greek mythology, a fabulous monster of Crete that had the body of a man and the head of a bull. [citation needed]. Hades put him in his chair of forgetfulness, where his mind would go blank and they could not move. The sons of Aegeus brother Pallas (often called the Pallantides) had hoped to inherit the throne if their uncle Aegeus died childless. This helped me become comfortable with sharing responsibility and improved my work-life balance.. Pausanias, Description of Greece: A second-century CE travelogue and one of our most important sources for local myths and customs. Theseuss Weaknesses: May have been a bit deceptive with Ariadne. Hercules come to rescue him from the underworld. His father Aegeus is king of Athens, but Theseus grows up in southern Greece with his mother. Informed of the plan by a herald named Leos, he crept out of the city at midnight and surprised the Pallantides. She was also the sister of Clytemnestra, who married Agamemnon. 2014. Theseus is a legendary hero from Greek mythology who was considered an early king of Athens. She tried to arrange to have Theseus killed by asking him to capture the Marathonian Bull, an emblem of Cretan power. Be prepared with a solution that demonstrates with a little extra effort, you have this weakness totally under control. Youre able to approach people with kindness and tact two vital soft skills in a leader. Deutsch | Medea realized that Theseus was the son of Aegeus, but she did not want Aegeus to recognize him. When Theseus grew up to be a young man, he moved the rock and recovered his father's tokens. He soon became a crowd favorite, much to the resentment of the Pallantides, who assassinated him, incurring the wrath of Minos. _____ The museum director said the broken vase was notreplaceable\mathit{not \ replaceable}notreplaceable. But the specific way you struggled, the impact that had, and your current approach will be what sets your answer apart. Famously killing villains, Amazons, and centaurs, his most celebrated adventure was his slaying of the fearsome Minotaur of the Cretan king Minos. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996. Theseus finally died in exile, under suspicious circumstances. The goal isnt to lie about your weaknesses its to frame them in a way that highlights your soft skills and suitability for the role. [vi] That night, Ariadne escorted Theseus to the Labyrinth, and Theseus promised that if he returned from the Labyrinth he would take Ariadne with him. This also hints that youre looking to, good weakness for job interviews shows introspection and growth, without interfering with your capacity to be a gre. Theseus, as usual, used his opponents method against him and threw Sciron off a cliff. Type of Villain Theseus to Kratos. G. the establishment of a state religion. Kapach, A. Being strong and skillful, he did very well, winning some events outright. There were likely other sanctuaries of Theseus in Athens by the fourth century BCE. Salary negotiation may feel intimidating, but it could make a huge difference in your career. See also Euripides, Hippolytus 3437; Pausanias, Description of Greece 1.22.2, 1.28.10; Apollodorus, Epitome 1.11. Which Characters In The Prologue To The Canterbury Tales Are Connected To The Church? According to some sources[citation needed], Theseus also was one of the Argonauts, although Apollonius of Rhodes states in the Argonautica[citation needed] that Theseus was still in the underworld at this time. He did not even see his father, Aegeus, or the city he would make famous until he was already a man. Near Megara, Theseus met the robber Sciron, who would throw his victims off a cliff. I also took an online management course to help me improve my feedback delivery.. Foster a culture of inclusion and belonging. The US space program, for instance, is called Apollo, after the god who never missed a target and who ruled light. But, when you land an interview, you still need to make a good first impression. Pirithous had heard stories of Theseus's courage and strength in battle but wanted proof so he rustled Theseus's herd of cattle and drove it from Marathon and Theseus set out in pursuit. Once again, were back to honesty. "Theseus then fell suddenly upon the party lying in ambush, and slew them all. Before leaving, however, he buried his sandals and sword under a huge rock[iii] and told Aethra that when their son grew up, he should move the rock, if he were heroic enough, and take the tokens for himself as evidence of his royal parentage. To journey to Athens, Theseus could choose to go by sea (which was the safe way) or by land, following a dangerous path around the Saronic Gulf, where he would encounter a string of six entrances to the Underworld,[iv] each guarded by a chthonic enemy. Still, many early works that recounted the myth of Theseus are lost. Theseus overpowered the Minotaur with his strength and stabbed the beast in the throat with his sword (according to one scholium on Pindar's Fifth Nemean Ode, Theseus strangled it).[8]. Example answer when your weakness is "delegation". In fact, the identity of Theseus father was kept secret from him until he had grown up and could prove himself. Admitting your weaknesses is an opportunity to showcase your most valuable qualities. Origin. Kapach, Avi. [12] When Theseus returned to Athens, he found that Helen was gone and that his mother had become her slave in Sparta. Creon. On his arrival in Crete, Ariadne, King Minos' daughter, fell in love with Theseus and, on the advice of Daedalus, gave him a ball of thread (a clew), so he could find his way out of the Labyrinth. "The ship wherein Theseus and the youth of Athens returned had thirty oars, and was preserved by the Athenians down even to the time of Demetrius Phalereus,[vii] for they took away the old planks as they decayed, putting in new and stronger timber in their place"[9], The ship had to be maintained in a seaworthy state, for, in return for Theseus's successful mission, the Athenians had pledged to honor Apollo every year henceforth. Medea was not the only threat to Theseus standing in Athens. The eldest of these, Androgeus, set sail for Athens to take part in the Panathenaic Games, which were held there every four years. This increased my stress levels, and I never got enough rest, which eventually impacted my focus and quality of work. Helen of Troy, Greek Helene, in Greek legend, the most beautiful woman of Greece and the indirect cause of the Trojan War. But, no matter how comfortable you feel, avoid answering the weaknesses question with a joke. On his way back to Athens, Aegeus stopped at Troezen, where he was entertained by King Pittheus. Theseus and Athens. Its hard to know what to do if you dont get a promotion. Aegeus, who was watching from a tower, saw the black flag and thought that his son had died. Here are 10 examples of the best weaknesses to mention in a job interview: 1. Theseus father was either Poseidon, the god of the sea, or Aegeus, the king of Athens. Phaedra bore Theseus two children, Acamas and Demophon. There are other versions, however, in which Heracles managed to save Pirithous too (Hyginus, Fabulae 79) and others still in which he managed to save neither Pirithous nor Theseus (Diodorus of Sicily, Library of History 4.63.5). As they wandered through the outskirts of Tartarus, Theseus sat down to rest on a rock. None of the tributes who were sent into the Labyrinth ever made it out. Perseus Digital Library. In 475 BCE, the Athenians claimed to have identified the remains of Theseus on Scyrus and brought them back to be reinterred in Athens. We understand this kind of self-reflection can be difficult.