Theseus Firsts Exploits

The tradition has it that Theseus invented "scientific" wrestling. This is the discipline by which even a lightweight can beat a stronger adversary by fancy footwork, trick holds and using the opponent's momentum to advantage. Theseus would have had little cause to invent such tactics if he'd been capable of beating his adversaries by sheer physical strength. Therefore one may deduce that the hero was a lightweight. So when it came to lifting boulders, Theseus was at a disadvantage. Resourcefulness, another heroic trait, must have come to his aid. He would have looked for some mechanical means to multiply his physical strength.

Periphetes the Club-Man

Setting out from Troezen, his birthplace, the first community of any size through which he passed was Epidaurus. Here he was waylaid by the ruffian Periphetes. Periphetes was nicknamed Corynetes or "Club-Man", after his weapon of choice, a big iron club and would hit you on the head once he got close enough and then he would rob you.

Theseus could have divert from Periphetes way, but he choose not to, the young man was about to become a legend. When he faced the villain, Theseus draw his sword and was about to attack Periphetes, when the ruffian said to him.

- I am Periphetes the cudgel man and I'm going to bash you're head with this club, he said.

- That's a mighty fine club you have there, replied Theseus.

- Pure brass, Periphetes said.

- I bet it's not, said Theseus.

- Yes it is.

- It's just wood wrapped in brass.

- Here, look at it to make sure.

Periphetes handed the club to Theseus.
Theseus knocked Periphetes in the side of the head with it.
Then he took his head with his sword.

Hercules carried a lion-skin on his shoulders as
proof of what a huge beast he had conquered,
and Theseus used the famous club of Periphetes
the same way. What he had overcome was now,
in his own hands, invincible.

Sinis the Pine-Bender

Continuing on and just before the Isthmus of Corinth at a point named today Kechries, Theseus found Sinis, who was called the Pine-Bender because this was his manner of executing his victims. Sinis, used to ask passers-by to help him bend two pine trees to the ground. Why the wayfarers should have wanted to help in this activity is not disclosed. Presumably Sinis was persuasive. Once he had bent the trees, he tied his helper's wrists - one to each tree. Then he took a break. When the strain became too much, the victim had to let go, which caused the trees to snap upright and scatter portions of anatomy in all directions.

The evildoer Sinis said to Theseus.

- Could you do me a favor young man? Hold this pine tree down for me.

Sinis bent a pine tree down and waited for Theseus to hold the tree down with him. Then Sinis let go! He was expecting Theseus to be catapulted in the air, but Theseus held it down. Sinis stooped down to get a better look at the tree, thinking that it had broken. Theseus let go of the tree. It hit Sinis in the chin knocking him unconscious. Theseus then tied Sinis' legs to one bent pine tree, his arms to another. Then Theseus let go, the trees ripped Sinis in half. Vultures screamed with delight. After killing him Theseus ravished his daughter Perigune.

The Crommyonian Sow

Then Theseus got to know the Crommyonian Sow, which was fierce and hard to master. This sow, offspring of Typhon, was a beast that had killed many human beings and had been bred by Phaea. The Crommyonian Sow gave birth to the famous Calydonian Boar.

But some say that Phaea was very old, very ugly, very fierce and she was not a pig but a woman of murderous and unbridled spirit, who dwelt in Crommyon, and was called Sow because of her life and manners. A female robber, who was so filthy and savage that she got this name "The Crommyonian Sow".

When Theseus came to her territory, he did not pass on but waited until he found her and killed her. It was his opinion that a brave man should lead the hunt for dangerous beasts, as well as evil men.