An ancient Greek hero, said to be related to Heracles. Thēseus was a seasoned adventurer who even spent time aboard the Argo. In one of his most famous expl... [Read more]
Japanese: Akinori Egoshi
An ancient Greek hero, said to be related to Heracles.
Thēseus was a seasoned adventurer who even spent time aboard the Argo. In one of his most famous exploits, he ventured into the great labyrinth of Crete to slay the Minotaur. After defeating the man-eating monster, he went on to perform many more heroic feats which would in turn be recorded in legend! That's where it all began.
...But all I sought was justice.
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Thēseus was a relative of Heracles. His capacity for heroism was identified at a young age. For example, when Heracles brought back the hide of a Nemean lion, Thēseus drew a weapon, ready to attack the beast, while the other children fled in fear.
Thēseus is the son of King Aegeus of Athens, but because he was born when the king was out on a voyage, he grew up not knowing his father. Later, he obtained King Aegeus's sandal and sword after lifting the enormous rock under which they were hidden. He then decided to go on a treacherous journey in search of his father. While a journey across the sea would have been easier, a journey by land would be much more dangerous, made so by the many evils one would have to face and overcome. Thēseus believed taking the difficult route and destroying evil was his duty as a hero. And so he defeated Periphetes the bandit, Sciron, a Crommyonian Sow, and many other wicked people and monsters on his journey to Athens, where he ultimately reclaimed his birthright.
Word arrived from King Minos of Crete demanding sacrifices (seven boys and seven girls) to the bull monster Minotaur. An angry Thēseus volunteered as a sacrifice and set off to the Labyrinth to slay the Minotaur.
But this adventure would ultimately lead to catastrophic heartbreak for Thēseus, forever destroying the optimistic outlook of a hero who believed he only ever fought villains and monsters. From that moment on, he drifted between just and unjust, forever trying to behave like the proper hero he once was, in spite of having lost his way. Gradually, his life moved from days of glory and splendor to setback, and finally unending grief. This tragic trajectory culminated in him losing his throne, facing scorn in the lands where he took refuge, and ultimately being murdered.
I no longer knew what was right.
I no longer understood what was wrong.
This was just the kind of sad, ordinary memory anyone might have.
...And I remain lost.
