JASON AND THESEUS

Theseus and Minotaur, 6th c. BCE (Wikimedia Commons)

The story of Theseus and the Minotaur is among the best known Greek myths: How the hero, by the aid of Ariadne, navigated the Labyrinth and killed the Minotaur. The similarities between Ariadne's love for and aid to Theseus and Medea's love for an aid to Jason stood out even in Antiquity. Apollonius of Rhodes went so far as to have Jason tell Medea that story of Theseus and Ariadne as foreshadowing for their own relationship. (This was a neat trick considering in most versions Medea is Theseus' step-mother.)

In days past the maiden Ariadne, daughter of Minos, with kindly intent rescued Theseus from grim contests -- the maiden whom Pasiphae daughter of Helios bare. But she, when Minos had lulled his wrath to rest, went aboard the ship with him and left her fatherland; and her even the immortal gods loved, and, as a sign in mid-sky, a crown of stars, which men call Ariadne's crown, rolls along all night among the heavenly constellations. So to thee too shall be thanks from the gods, if thou wilt save so mighty an array of chieftains.
         -- Jason to Medea in Apollonius, Argonautica III.

Many other since then have noted the similarity between the stories of the two heroes and their wives. For example, both Medea and Ariadne have been identified as former goddesses, perhaps of the Bronze Age, that time and the Greek imagination have slowly transformed into mortal princesses.

But this is not the only likeness between Jason and Theseus.

Comparison of the Two Heroes

THESEUS

JASON

• Son of a reigning king but grew up in the countryside.
• Recognized by his father by possession of his father's sandals.
• Medea tried to kill him to privilege her children for succession.
• Volunteered for a task in which he was expected to die.
• Traveled on a ship with many Greek youths.
• Traveled to a hostile kingdom across the sea (Crete).
• Kingdom ruled by a god's son (Minos, son of Zeus).
• The king's daughter (Ariadne) falls in love with the hero.
• Ariadne provides secret aid to Theseus.
• By this aid, Theseus slays the Minotaur, the bull-man.
• The return of Theseus leads to his father's death.
• The marriage of Theseus and Ariadne ends with Ariadne leaving Theseus for Dionysus.
• Theseus becomes king of Athens.
  

• Son of a reigning king but sent to live in the countryside.
• Recognized by Pelias by his wearing of only one sandal.
• Medea killed his sons in an act of revenge.
• Volunteered for a task in which he was expected to die.
• Traveled on a ship with many Greek youths.
• Traveled to a hostile kingdom across the sea (Aea/Colchis).
• Kingdom ruled by a god's son (Aeetes, son of Helios).
• The king's daughter (Medea) falls in love with the hero.
• Medea provides secret aid to Jason.
• By this aid, Jason yokes two fiery bulls and slays the Spartoi.
• The return of Jason leads to his uncle Pelias' death.
• The marriage of Jason and Medea ends with Jason leaving Medea for Glauce.
• In some versions Jason becomes king of Iolcus or Corinth.
  

The Story of Theseus and the Minotaur

The Library of Apollodorus (with Epitome), trans. Sir James G. Frazer (1921)

[3.15.8] But not long afterwards, being master of the sea, he attacked Athens with a fleet [...] When the war lingered on and he could not take Athens, he prayed to Zeus that he might be avenged on the Athenians. And the city being visited with a famine and a pestilence, the Athenians at first, in obedience to an ancient oracle, slaughtered the daughters of Hyacinth, to wit, Antheis, Aegleis, Lytaea, and Orthaea, on the grave of Geraestus, the Cyclops; now Hyacinth, the father of the damsels, had come from Lacedaemon and dwelt in Athens. But when this was of no avail, they inquired of the oracle how they could be delivered; and the god answered them that they should give Minos whatever satisfaction he might choose. So they sent to Minos and left it to him to claim satisfaction. And Minos ordered them to send seven youths and the same number of damsels without weapons to be fodder for the Minotaur. Now the Minotaur was confined in a labyrinth, in which he who entered could not find his way out; for many a winding turn shut off the secret outward way. The labyrinth was constructed by Daedalus, whose father was Eupalamus, son of Metion, and whose mother was Alcippe; for he was an excellent architect and the first inventor of images. He had fled from Athens, because he had thrown down from the acropolis Talos, the son of his sister Perdix; for Talos was his pupil, and Daedalus feared that with his talents he might surpass himself, seeing that he had sawed a thin stick with a jawbone of a snake which he had found. But the corpse was discovered; Daedalus was tried in the Areopagus, and being condemned fled to Minos. And there Pasiphae having fallen in love with the bull of Poseidon, Daedalus acted as her accomplice by contriving a wooden cow, and he constructed the labyrinth, to which the Athenians every year sent seven youths and as many damsels to be fodder for the Minotaur.

[3.16.1] Aethra bore to Aegeus a son Theseus, and when he was grown up, he pushed away the rock and took up the sandals and the sword, and hastened on foot to Athens.

[E.1.7] And he was numbered among those who were to be sent as the third tribute to the Minotaur; or, as some affirm, he offered himself voluntarily. And as the ship had a black sail, Aegeus charged his son, if he returned alive, to spread white sails on the ship.

[E.1.8] And when he came to Crete, Ariadne, daughter of Minos, being amorously disposed to him, offered to help him if he would agree to carry her away to Athens and have her to wife. Theseus having agreed on oath to do so, she besought Daedalus to disclose the way out of the labyrinth.

[E.1.9] And at his suggestion she gave Theseus a clue [a ball of twine] when he went in; Theseus fastened it to the door, and, drawing it after him, entered in. And having found the Minotaur in the last part of the labyrinth, he killed him by smiting him with his fists; and drawing the clue after him made his way out again. And by night he arrived with Ariadne and the children at Naxos. There Dionysus fell in love with Ariadne and carried her off; and having brought her to Lemnos he enjoyed her, and begat Thoas, Staphylus, Oenopion, and Peparethus.

[E.1.10] In his grief on account of Ariadne, Theseus forgot to spread white sails on his ship when he stood for port; and Aegeus, seeing from the acropolis the ship with a black sail, supposed that Theseus had perished; so he cast himself down and died.

[E.1.11] But Theseus succeeded to the sovereignty of Athens, and killed the sons of Pallas, fifty in number; likewise all who would oppose him were killed by him, and he got the whole government to himself.