Pittheus in the ancient sources

Ancient Sources / Figures / Pittheus

7 passages from 4 ancient authors that tell of Pittheus, in the original with English translation, author by author in the order the Greeks read them. Pittheus was the son of Pelops in Greek mythology, who later became the king of the region of Troezen. His daughters were Aethra and Henioche. King Ae... For the story in one place, read our article on Pittheus.

Euripides (1)

Euripides, Hippolytus 1–57Prologue: Aphrodite announces her revenge on HippolytusThe goddess Aphrodite, here called Cypris, says that she rewards those who honour her and punishes the proud, and that Hippolytus, the son of Theseus and the Amazon, scorns her and honours only Artemis. She tells how Phaedra, seeing him, was struck with love for him, and that she herself will bring about the destruction of Hippolytus, and that Phaedra too must die, for her honour. She sees Hippolytus coming from the hunt and goes.

Pausanias (2)

Pausanias, Description of Greece 2.31.1–10Troezen: Saviour Artemis, Pittheus’ tomb and the purification of OrestesIn the market-place of Troezen Pausanias describes the temple of Saviour Artemis founded by Theseus and the altars of the gods below, the tomb and judgment seats of Pittheus, the sanctuary of the Muses and the temple of Wolfish Artemis. Near these are the sacred stone and the booth where Orestes was purified, the sanctuary of Thearian Apollo, the colonnade with statues of the Athenian women and children, the fountain Hippocrene, the Hermes Polygius with the sprouting club of Hercules, and the temple of Saviour Zeus.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 2.30.1–10Aegina’s cults of Hecate and Aphaea; the early history of TroezenPausanias lists Aegina’s temples, Hecate’s mysteries with Myron’s image, the sanctuary of Aphaea and the Cretan legend of Britomartis, and the sanctuary of Panhellenian Zeus, referring readers to Herodotus for the images of Auxesia and Damia. He then turns to Troezenia, giving its legendary kings from Orus and Althepus through Saron, Hyperes and Anthas to Pittheus and Troezen, and notes Dorian rule from Argos and the colonies founded from Troezen.

Plutarch (3)

Plutarch, Life of Theseus 1.1–5.4Prologue; Aegeus, Aethra and the birth of Theseus; his hair offering at DelphiPlutarch, having written the Lives of Lycurgus and Numa, turns back to Romulus and sets Theseus beside him as the founder of Athens, asking indulgence for the tales of fable. Aegeus is told by the Pythian priestess not to loose the wine-skin until he reaches Athens, and Pittheus at Troezen persuades him to lie with his daughter Aethra. Aegeus hides a sword and sandals under a great rock for the son who may be born. Theseus is reared by Pittheus and at Delphi cuts only the front of his hair, as Homer says the Abantes did.
Plutarch, Life of Theseus 6.1–11.2The road to Athens: Periphetes, Sinis, the Crommyonian Sow, Sciron, Cercyon and ProcrustesPittheus spreads the report that Poseidon was the father of Theseus, and Aethra shows him the rock, which he lifts easily. He refuses the safe sea route to Athens, wishing to match his kinsman Heracles against the robbers of the land road. He kills Periphetes the Club-bearer, Sinis the Pine-bender (whose daughter Perigune bears him Melanippus), the Crommyonian Sow called Phaea, Sciron, Cercyon the Arcadian and Damastes called Procrustes. Megarian writers say that Sciron was no robber but a punisher of robbers and a kinsman of just men.
Plutarch, Life of Theseus 24.1–25.5Theseus unites Attica and founds the Athenian stateAfter the death of Aegeus, Theseus persuades the people of Attica to settle in one city, which he names Athens, and he institutes a Panathenaic festival and the Metoecia. He lays aside royal power, as an oracle from Delphi supports, and divides the people into noblemen, husbandmen and handicraftsmen. He coins money stamped with an ox. He sets up the pillar on the Isthmus marking the boundary between Peloponnesus and Ionia and founds the Isthmian games in honour of Poseidon.

Strabo (1)

Strabo, Geography 8.6.14–18Troezen, Epidaurus and AeginaStrabo describes Troezen of Poseidon (Neptune) and the sanctuary on Calauria, which Poseidon is said to have received from Leto (Latona) in exchange for Delos, and where Demosthenes took poison. He notes Pelops's sons Troezen and Pittheus. He also describes Epidaurus and the cures of Asclepius (Aesculapius), and Aegina, home of Aeacus, whose people were called Myrmidones, not because ants turned into men as the fable says, but because they dug the soil like ants.