He was the slayer of the Minotaur and the architect of Athens. Unlike other heroes who fought for personal glory, Theseus fought to build a civilization.
This volume of The Mythographer’s Guide reconstructs the legend of the King of Attica, moving beyond the simplified tales to the brutal political reality of the myth. Follow his path along the bandit-ridden coast, descend into the psychological terror of the Labyrinth, and witness the founding of the Athenian state through the unification of the twelve towns.
But power exacts a high price. From the abandonment of Ariadne to the tragic curse that destroyed his son Hippolytus, explore the personal ruin that haunted the man who united a people. This is the definitive account of how the wilderness was tamed and how the first great city of the West was forged in blood, law, and betrayal.
