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1、LectureFourteenTheseusandthe“Test-and-Quest”MythI.Thestoriesofseveralheroesfitwhathasbeencalledthe“quest”pattern.Amongthese,Theseus’sstoryisparticularlyrichforinvestigatingmythicthemesandpresentingpossibilitiesforinterpretation.A.TheseusislesswellknowntomodernreadersthanHeraclesorJa
2、sonis,butasthelegendarysynoikistes(“unifier”)ofAttica,hewasanimportantfigureinAthenianmyth.InTheseus’scase,mythbecameacharterforAthenianhegemoniccontrolofAttica.B.PerhapsbecauseofhisimportantroleinAthens,variousstoriesaccruedaroundTheseus,anditisdifficulttoworkoutaconsistentchronolo
3、gyforhisadventures.II.Hisbirth,childhood,andyoungadulthoodshowtypical“hero”elements,reminiscentoffolktale.A.Odditiesandambiguitiessurroundhisconception,nottheleastofwhichisanapparentdouble-fatherhood.1.HishumanfatherwasAigeus,kingofAthens.2.Hismother,Aithra,wasrapedbyPoseidononthesa
4、menightthatshesleptwithAigeus;thus,Theseus’sparentagewasuncertain.Thisexplainshowhewasatop-notchherowho,atthesametime,inheritedhisfather’sthrone.B.Aigeusleftsandalsandaswordunderaboulder,withinstructionsthathissonshouldcometohiminAthenswhenhewasstrongenoughtolifttheboulderandretriev
5、ethetokens.TheseusdoessoandsetsoffforAthens.C.Theseus’sjourneytoAthenstoclaimhispatrimonyinvolvesaseriesofencounterswithmonsters.1.ThemostfamousofthesewasProcrustes,whohadabedthatheforcedallvisitorstofit.Thisistheoriginofthetermprocrustean.2.OthersincludedthegiantSinisthe“pinebender
6、”andamonstrousboar.Theseus“unifies”thecountrysidebyeliminatingthesedangers.D.WhenTheseusreachedAthens,hewasreceivedasaguestbyAigeusandAigeus’scurrentwife,Medea.1.Medea,betterknownforherpreviousinvolvementwithJason,wasasorceress.2.ShewaspregnantandfearedthatTheseus(whomsherecognizeda
7、sAigeus’sson)woulddisplaceherownchild.3.ShepersuadedAigeusthattheyoungguestplannedtokillhim,andAigeusagreedtopoisontheyouth.E.Atthedinnertable,Theseusdrewhisswordtocuthismeat.AigeusrecognizedtheswordandstoppedTheseusfromdrinkinghispoisonedwine,justintime.III.Afterhisrecognitionbyhis
8、father,Theseusembar
