29. The Quest for Theseus by Anne G. Ward, W. R. Connor, Ruth B. Edwards & Simon Tidworth
Preface: Reynolds Higgins
published: 1970
format: Hardcover
acquired: borrowed
read: July 4-7
rating: 3½

Before stumbling across this title on my Mother's-in-law bookshelf a few years ago, it never really occurred to me to think about Theseus all that much, or his myth. That seems a bit odd in hindsight, even if he wasn't in Homer in any significant way or in Hesiod that I can remember. Because, Theseus is everywhere.

From memory, the Theseus myth begins with political seduction at conception, and grows to include his discovery of his own parentage, adventures as a youth, discovery by his father, his voluntary capture by Cretans to be sacrificed to the Minotaur, and his killing of the Minotaur with the help of Ariadne's string, symbolically representing Athen's rise over fallen Crete. Ariadne was a daughter of King Minos. Theseus's abandonment of Ariadne on an uninhabited island, and his marriage to her sister Phaedra. Later, Phaedra would fall for Hyppolytus, a son of Theseus through an Amazon mistress. Phaedra tried to seduce and then ruin Hyppolytus, committing suicide in the process. But Theseus kept going. He kidnaps of Helen (who was later rescued), fights off the Centaurs for Pirithous, another king who then ties Theseus into a visit to the underworld where both kings are trapped, but Theseus, or most of him anyway, is rescued from the underworld by Hercules. Add to this his dalliance with Medea, and his mythical origins of Athens' power and democracy (an anachronism). He was, in the mythological spectrum, Athens' statement of prominence.

The myth of Theseus is both ridiculous and awesome, terrible and quite moving, a flawed hero.

This books itself is a very odd one that I quite enjoyed, even found a bit inspiring, despite its flaws. The problem with the book is that the mixture of authors is uneven. Three humble decent authors contribute to the myth of Theseus and how is was used and developed politically and artistically through time. But the prominent author is Anne Ward, who wants to whole book revolve around archeology with the idea that archeology can somehow prove the truth under the Theseus myth. That this is science backwards, and unprofessional doesn't give her pause. Honestly, she was such a poor writer and scientist (an archeologist) that I couldn't even dislike her or skip her contributions, but found them awfully entertaining. Presenting herself offhand as superior in all her archeological insight, she mixed really interesting archeological finds routinely with statements that undermine all she presented. She continually professes absolute and unjustified assurance in "archeological" interpretations that were very plainly suspect. Some I know are far from current thought. She is, to put frankly, ridiculous.

Maybe because of the contrast, or maybe because they just had really interesting info, the other three authors stand out with what I found really reasonable, interesting and sometimes perspective changing summaries of the history of the myth. For example, it was really interesting to see how Athenian leaders would use and manipulate the Theseus myth to help their own political interests. But mainly, it was just nice to rethink all the Greek mythologies through Theseus and his perspective. It's interesting how all this stuff ties to together so neatly, despite so many contradictions.

Anyway, a mixed book, one for those drawn to the title, and willing to overcome my warnings above.

Contributions, by author:
Anne G. Ward - Intro and conclusion plus five terrible chapters on archaeology
Ruth B. Edwards - two chapters on the origins and evolution of the Theseus myths
W. R. Connor - one chapter on the use of the Theseus myths in classical Athens
Simon Tidworth - three chapters on Roman, Renaissance to Romanticism and modern use of the Theseus myths
Reynolds Higgins - 5 paragraph "preface"

2017
https://www.librarything.com/topic/260412#6121236