THE PRINCE OF TRIZINA

Mythology records that Sfairia, where Poros town is today, was once visited by the princess Aethra, where she met Aegeus, the King of Athens. The two got on so well that they spent the night together. In the morning Aegeus took off his sandals and sword and laid them on the ground. He then rolled a huge rock over them and told Aethra that if she gave birth to a son who was strong enough to move the rock, then he should take the sword and sandals and bring them to him in Athens.

As it happens, Aethra gave birth to a son, and called him Theseus. The child spent most of his early years in the court of Aethra’s father, Pytheas, son of Pelops and King of Troezen (Trizina). Herakles (Hercules, the more common Roman spelling) once visited the court of Pytheas. At the time, Theseus was about seven years old, and when Herakles first entered the palace wearing a lion skin, the occupants thought that he was a real lion and began to flee. Theseus, however, took a club and started to attack the intruder.

When Theseus was at the age of sixteen his mother ordered him to remove the large rock that concealed Aethra’s sword and sandals. Theseus, now strong enough, rolled the rock away and took the sword and sandals. His mother told him that he must take them and go to meet his father in Athens.

During his journey to meet his father Theseus underwent some great adventures equal to those of Herakles, his early opponent. Little is mentioned of him after he met with his father.