Heroes: Volume II of Mythos

T HE S TORY OF THE T RIBUTE Aegeus’s next act was to announce that he would one day soon abdicate his throne in favour of Theseus, news received with much joy by the people of Athens. Aegeus was not unpopular, but it was widely accepted that he had been a weak ruler. Fifty strong and angry men contested Theseus’s right to rule, however – the Pallantidae, the fifty sons of Aegeus’s dead brother Pallas. They declared outright war on their unwanted cousin. It is axiomatic in the world of Greek mythology that a hero never knows rest and it was with a good grace and healthy vigour that Theseus prosecuted his war against the fifty. In two groups, each led by twenty-five of the brothers, the enemy planned a surprise pincer attack on Athens. But Theseus had spies in their camp. Informed of their plans by a herald named LEUS, he ambushed each army in turn, massacring every single one of the Pallantidae. Theseus felt he now had time to enjoy the peace and prosperity that had at last come to Athens. Yet he noticed that far from looking happy, the citizenry was going about the town with sullen, downcast looks. He was still popular, he knew that. But he could not account for what he saw in the people’s eyes. He went to Aegeus. ‘I don’t understand it, father. The Pallantidae are no longer a threat. That witch Medea no longer exerts her malign influence over you and the city … trade is booming. Yet there’s a look in everyone’s eyes. A look of fear, of … the only word I can think of is … dread.’ Aegeus nodded. ‘Yes. Dread is the right word.’ ‘But why?’ ‘It’s the tributes, you see. The time has come round again for the tributes.’ ‘Tributes?’ ‘Has no one told you? Well, you’ve been a little occupied since you got here, haven’t you? I suppose what with those fifty nephews of mine … and the Marathonian Bull, of course. Well, it concerns that damned bull, as a matter of fact … Oh dear.’ ‘What about it, father? It’s been dead this year or more.’ ‘We have to go back quite a few years. King Minos sent his son to stay with me. To take part in some games and learn a little Athenian town polish, you know. Manners and style. The Cretans are … well, you know what Cretans are like.’ Theseus did not know what Cretans were like, but he knew that the rest of Greece held them equally in awe, fear and contempt. ‘So he came to us. Androgeus, his name was. Stupid boy, I thought him, not very interesting, and so boastful about his attributes as a fighter and athlete. I should never have encouraged him. It was wrong of me …’ ‘What happened?’ ‘He died, while a guest. His father Minos … er … didn’t take it well. He sailed a fleet here which overwhelmed our navy. Troops poured out from their damned ships and before long he had us where he wanted us.’ ‘But he didn’t occupy Athens?’ ‘Said it wasn’t worth it. “No Cretan would want to live in such a place,” he said. Cheek. He threatened to burn the whole city to the ground unless …’ ‘Unless?’ ‘Well, this is where we come to it. Every year we must send seven maidens and seven youths in a ship to Crete to feed their … their …’ Aegeus dried up at this point and gestured helplessly. ‘Feed their what? Their army? Their sexual appetites? Their curiosity? What?’ ‘I suppose I shall have to tell you a story within a story now. What do you know of Daedalus?’ ‘Never heard of it …’ ‘Daedalus is not an it, he’s a him.’ ‘Never heard of him, then.’ ‘Really? Have you heard of ASTERION and Pasiphae, or the Bull from the Sea?’ ‘Father, you talk in riddles.’ Aegeus sighed. ‘I had better call for wine. You should know these stories.’