Article #674-2 | Gutenberg Articles

Excerpt

Excerpt from Plutarch: Lives of the noble Grecians and Romans, by Plutarch

Loose not the wine-skin foot, thou chief of men,
Until to Athens thou art come again.

Pittheus, therefore, taking advantage from the obscurity of the oracle,
prevailed upon him, it is uncertain whether by persuasion or deceit, to
lie with his daughter Aethra. Aegeus afterwards, knowing her whom he
had lain with to be Pittheus's daughter, and suspecting her to be with
child by him, left a sword and a pair of shoes, hiding them under a
great stone that had a hollow in it exactly fitting them; and went away
making her only privy to it, and commanding her, if she brought forth a
son who, when he came to man's estate, should be able to lift up the
stone and take away what he had left there, she should send him away to
him with those things with all secrecy, and with injunctions to him as
much as possible to conceal his journey from every one; for he greatly
feared the Pallantidae, who were continually mutinying against him, and
despised him for his want of children, they themselves being fifty
brothers, all sons of Pallas.

When Aethra was delivered of a son, some say that he was immediately
named Theseus, from the tokens which his father had put @ under the
stone; others that he received his name afterwards at Athens, when
Aegeus acknowledged him for his son. He was brought up under his
grandfather Pittheus, and had a tutor and attendant set over him named
Connidas, to whom the Athenians, even to this time, the day before the
feast that is dedicated to Theseus, sacrifice a ram, giving this honor
to his memory upon much juster grounds than to Silanio and Parrhasius,
for making pictures and statues of Theseus. There being then a custom
for the Grecian youth, upon their first coming to man's estate, to go to
Delphi and offer first-fruits of their hair to the god, Theseus also
went thither, and a place there to this day is yet named Thesea, as it
is said, from him. He clipped only the fore part of his head, as Homer
says the Abantes did.% And this sort of tonsure was from him named
Theseis. The Abantes first used it, not in imitation of the Arabians,
as some imagine, nor of the Mysians, but because they were a warlike
people, and used to close fighting, and above all other nations
accustomed to engage hand to hand; as Archilochus testifies
in these verses: --

Explanation

Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from Plutarch’s Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans

This passage comes from Plutarch’s Life of Theseus, part of his Parallel Lives, a series of biographies comparing famous Greek and Roman figures. Plutarch (c. 46–120 CE) was a Greek historian and biographer who sought to explore moral character through the lives of great men. The Life of Theseus is one of the earliest surviving accounts of the legendary Athenian hero, blending myth, folklore, and quasi-historical tradition.

The excerpt recounts key episodes in Theseus’ early life, particularly his conception, birth, upbringing, and the prophetic conditions surrounding his future recognition by his father, Aegeus. Below is a breakdown of the text, its themes, literary devices, and significance.

1. Context of the Passage

Before this excerpt, Plutarch describes how Aegeus, king of Athens, consults the Oracle of Delphi about his childlessness. The oracle gives him a cryptic response (the first two lines of the excerpt), which Aegeus misinterprets, leading to Theseus’ conception.

"Loose not the wine-skin foot, thou chief of men, / Until to Athens thou art come again."
- The "wine-skin foot" (askos podos) is a metaphorical reference to the wine-skin (a leather flask) tied at the foot, symbolizing sexual restraint (i.e., do not have intercourse until returning to Athens).
- Aegeus, however, misunderstands or ignores this warning, leading to his encounter with Aethra, daughter of Pittheus, king of Troezen.

This sets the stage for Theseus’ divine or semi-divine birth (some versions claim Poseidon as his father) and his eventual role as Athens’ greatest hero.

2. Summary of the Excerpt

A. Theseus’ Conception and the Oracle’s Deception (Lines 1–5)

Pittheus’ Role: Aegeus stays in Troezen, where Pittheus, knowing the oracle’s words, either persuades or tricks Aegeus into sleeping with Aethra.
- The ambiguity ("whether by persuasion or deceit") suggests moral ambiguity—was Pittheus acting as a matchmaker or manipulating Aegeus?
- This reflects Greek skepticism about oracles—their words are often misinterpreted or exploited.
Aegeus’ Precautions:
- After realizing Aethra might bear his child, he leaves tokens (a sword and sandals) under a massive stone and instructs her:
  - If their son can lift the stone and retrieve the items, she must send him to Athens in secret.
  - The fear of the Pallantidae (50 sons of Pallas, Aegeus’ rivals) drives this secrecy—they see Aegeus’ lack of an heir as weakness.

B. Theseus’ Birth and Naming (Lines 6–8)

Two Theories on His Name:
1. "Theseus" from thesmos (tokens): The items under the stone (sema) foretell his destiny.
2. "Theseus" given later in Athens: When Aegeus acknowledges him.
This duality reinforces Theseus’ liminal identity—neither fully Troezenian nor Athenian until he proves himself.

C. Theseus’ Upbringing and the Rite of Passage (Lines 9–15)

Education Under Pittheus and Connidas:
- Raised by his grandfather, Theseus has a tutor, Connidas, honored in Athens with a ram sacrifice before the festival of Theseus.
- Plutarch contrasts this real honor with the artistic glorification of Theseus by sculptors like Silanio and Parrhasius, suggesting true virtue is in deeds, not representations.
The Delphi Pilgrimage and the "Thesean" Haircut:
- Greek youths traditionally dedicated their first haircut to Apollo at Delphi.
- Theseus clips only the front of his hair ("Theseis" tonsure), a style later associated with him.
- Plutarch corrects misconceptions:
  - Some thought the Abantes (a Greek tribe) copied Arabians or Mysians, but Plutarch argues they did it for practicality in battle (less hair to grab in hand-to-hand combat).
  - Archilochus’ poetry (a 7th-century BCE lyric poet) is cited as evidence, reinforcing Plutarch’s historical methodology (using multiple sources).

3. Key Themes

A. Fate vs. Free Will

The oracle’s ambiguity sets Theseus’ life in motion, but human choices (Pittheus’ deception, Aegeus’ precautions) shape his destiny.
The stone and tokens symbolize predestination—Theseus must prove himself worthy before claiming his birthright.

B. Identity and Legacy

Theseus is caught between two worlds (Troezen and Athens) until he lifts the stone.
His name, haircut, and eventual recognition by Aegeus mark his transition from boy to hero.

C. Political Struggle and Succession

The Pallantidae represent internal strife—Aegeus’ fear of them explains why Theseus must arrive secretly.
Theseus’ eventual victory over them (not in this excerpt) will secure his legitimacy as heir.

D. Heroic Education and Rites of Passage

The Delphi pilgrimage and haircut are coming-of-age rituals, tying Theseus to Greek cultural traditions.
His physical strength (lifting the stone) and intellect (following instructions) foreshadow his later heroism.

E. The Role of Art vs. Reality

Plutarch critiques artistic glorification (statues of Theseus) in favor of real virtues (like Connidas’ tutelage).
This reflects his biographical purpose: to teach moral lessons through historical figures.

4. Literary Devices

Device	Example	Effect
Oracle & Prophecy	"Loose not the wine-skin foot..."	Creates suspense; foreshadows Theseus’ birth.
Ambiguity	"whether by persuasion or deceit"	Highlights moral complexity in Pittheus’ actions.
Symbolism	Stone, sword, sandals	Represent Theseus’ hidden destiny and strength.
Foreshadowing	Fear of the Pallantidae	Sets up future conflict (Theseus’ battle for the throne).
Allusion	Reference to Homer (Abantes’ haircut) and Archilochus	Lends authority; connects Theseus to epic tradition.
Contrast	Artistic honor (statues) vs. real honor (sacrifice to Connidas)	Emphasizes Plutarch’s moral focus.
Etiological Explanation	Origin of the "Theseis" haircut	Explains cultural practices through myth.

5. Significance of the Passage

A. Theseus as a Foundational Hero

This excerpt establishes Theseus as Athens’ culture hero, linking him to Athenian identity, democracy, and unification (he later synoikizes Attica).
Unlike Heracles (a pan-Hellenic hero), Theseus is specifically Athenian, embodying civilization over brutality.

B. Plutarch’s Methodology

Plutarch blends myth and history, using multiple sources (oracles, poetry, local customs) to construct a plausible narrative.
His moralizing tone (e.g., criticizing artistic glorification) reflects his philosophical interests (he was a Platonist).

C. Influence on Later Literature

Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Theseus as Duke of Athens) and Boccaccio’s Teseida draw from this tradition.
The "stone-lifting" motif appears in later folklore (e.g., King Arthur’s sword in the stone).

D. Psychological and Political Depth

Aegeus’ fear of usurpation mirrors real Athenian political anxieties (e.g., succession crises in the 5th century BCE).
Theseus’ hidden lineage is a common heroic trope (cf. Oedipus, Perseus, Moses), reinforcing the idea that greatness must be earned.

6. Conclusion: Why This Passage Matters

This excerpt is not just a mythological tale but a carefully constructed origin story that:

Explains Theseus’ divine favor (oracle, tokens) while keeping him human enough to be relatable.
Sets up his future conflicts (Pallantidae, Minotaur, Amazons).
Reflects Greek values: strength, cunning, piety, and the transition from youth to heroism.
Showcases Plutarch’s style: moral instruction, historical skepticism, and literary craftsmanship.

By examining this passage, we see how myth, history, and biography intersect in ancient Greek thought, shaping not just Theseus’ legend but Western storytelling itself.