Aegeus

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Aegeus

Role / Field:

Mythical king of Athens, father of Theseus, and namesake of the Aegean Sea.

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Foundations

Aegeus ( , ; Ancient Greek: Αἰγεύς, romanized: Aigeús, lit. 'goat', 'shield' or 'protector') was one of the kings of Athens in Greek mythology, who gave his name to the Aegean Sea, was the father of Theseus, and founded Athenian institutions. Aegeus was the son of Pandion II, king of Athens and Pylia, daughter of King Pylas of Megara and thus, brother to Pallas, Nysus, Lykos and the wife of Sciron. But, in some accounts, he was regarded as the son of Scyrius or Phemius and was not of the stock of the Erechtheids, since he was only an adopted son of Pandion.

Key Developments & Impact

Aegeus' first wife was Meta, daughter of Hoples and his second wife was Chalciope, daughter of Rhexenor, neither of whom bore him any children. He was also credited to be the father of Medus by the witch Medea. One of his wifes was Autochthe of the House of Perseus, who gave him many daughters but no sons. In a rare account, Pallas was also said to be the son of Aegeus. The latter was also said to fathered Megareus, eponymous founder of Megara.

Enduring Legacy

Aegeides (Αἰγείδης), was a patronymic from Aegeus and especially used to designate Theseus. Aegeus was born in Megara, where his father Pandion II...

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Aegeus

True or False: “Aegeus was the direct biological father of Theseus.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While Aegeus is credited as the father of Theseus, some accounts suggest he was not of the direct Erechtheid stock, and the lineage is complex.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Aegeus