Theseus was the most important king of Athens and after Heracles the most popular hero in Ancient Greece

Theseus was the son of king Aegeus of Athens. Aegeus, concerned that he had reached a certain age without having ancestors, went to Delphi to consult the Delphic oracle, but he received a prophecy he could not understand. So, on his way back home, he decided to stop by at Troezen and ask King Pittheus for advice.

Instead of supporting him Pittheus rather tricked Aegeus to lie with his daughter Aethra , in the hope that Aethra would conceive Aegeus child. However, at the same night, Aethra had been previously seduced by the greek god Poseidon; so Theseus was considered to have had two divine origins.

Before heading off to Athens, Aegeus left a sword and sandals under a rock and told Aethra that when his son was strong enough to lift the rock, she should send him to Athens. Knowing who the father of Theseus really was, Aethra agreed.