Theseus - Volunteers as Tribute

Theseus learned that his father was Aegeus, King of Athens, after he was able to move a heavy rock and discover what was beneath it.  The hidden treasures revealed his true identity.

Intent to meet his father, Theseus headed toward Athens.  Following the most dangerous route, he encountered many robbers whom he was forced to kill.  In doing so, however, he made the road safer for travelers who followed after him.

Arriving in Athens, he helped his father understand that Theseus was his long-abandoned son.   Aegeus recognized his son as soon as he saw his sword (which the King had buried, under a heavy rock, before he abandoned his family).

A curse over Athens required that seven of the city's sons and seven of its daughters were periodically required to serve as Tributes to Crete.  While there, they were sacrificed to the vicious beast, the Minotaur.

Theseus was angry that these children were sent to Crete.  He volunteered to replace one of the young men, with the aim that he would enter the Labyrinth and kill the beast. 

If he were successful, the curse over Athens would thus be broken, and no more Tributes would ever have to be sent to Crete.

Credits

Clip from a series known as "The Storyteller" - episode "Theseus and the Minotaur" - an American/British co-production. Copyright, Henson Associates and TVS Television, all rights reserved. Clip provided here as fair use for educational purposes.

The series was created by Jim Henson (creator of The Muppets) and developed by Anthony Minghella. It originally aired in 1988. The series ended after the second season. "Theseus and the Minotaur" is from the last season.

This clip features:

Director -  John Madden

Screenplay - By Nigel William

Producer - Duncan Kenworthy

Michael Gambon - The Storyteller

Brian Henson - The Storyteller's Dog