Theseus, Tragedy, and the Athenian Empire

This book describes Athenian attempts to cope with the contradictions in the character of Theseus and discusses Theseus in tragedy in the context of fifth-century Athenian culture. Every nation needs role models: the Athenians were no exception. Handsome, brave, intelligent, and just, Theseus seemed the perfect Athenian but under this exterior lay a heartless seducer, rapist, and killer of his own son.