There was a long time ago a beautiful young lady named Aethra. She was the daughter of king of Troezen,Pitheus and she was married to the king of Athens Aegeus.

After some time Aegeus had to return back to Athens so before he left took his sword and shoes and buried them in the ground. He placed a giant rock over them and told his wife :"When our son,Thesseus can move this rock send him to me. Then I will know that he is strong enough to be king of Athens".

Thesseus lived a happy life at Troezen with his mother and granfather. As the years went by, he grew strong and wise. He liked books as well as games and contests. He liked stories of heroes and best of all he liked the adventures of Hercules and was dreaming how he could be as brave and strong as him.

One day his mother called him and told him the story of the rock,the shoes and the sword. Thesseus ran to the rock and pullled it away on the first try, picked up the shoes and the sword and with shining eyes said: "Now,I am ready to go to my father."

His granfather advised him to go to Athens by sea because the road to Athens was filled with cruel and wicked robbers but Thesseus replied that he was going to meet them bravely and set out for his first great adventure.

On his way to Athens he met the Club-bearer and killed him with his sword,threw the Foot-washer over the cliff to the sea and made Procrustes to lie on the bed he used to torture his victims and have the same end as them.

On arriving in Athens he found both his father and his people sad and unhappy. Having asked the reason he was told that seven boys and seven

girls had to be sent to the palace of king Minos in Crete every year and they never returned.

"What does he do with these young people?"asked Thesseus. "We are not sure" answered his father " but we know that he has a monster called the Minotaur in maze near his palace named the labyrinth. It's a fierce monster with the body of man and the head of a bull."

"I will be a better king to the people of Athens if I free them from the power of King Minos. I will sail to Crete tomorrow,"said Thesseus. So the next day he put on his father sword, picked up his shield and knife and walked down to the Athenian ship that was waiting .

Aegeus told his son:"Look at the ship my boy.It has a black sail.If you kill the Minotaur,put up a white one in its place. I shall watch for you everyday from the high cliff of Cape Sounion. If I see the white sail coming I will know that you have killed the monster. If I see the black sail I will understand that you are dead."

So Thesseus arrived to the island of Crete after a long voyage across the sea.There King Minos with his beautiful daugther Ariadne were waiting. He looked at him and said:"Do not think that you will be saved because you are a king's son". "I have not come to be saved from death ,"answered Thesseus. "I have come to save others. I am going to kill the Minotaur " said Thesseus to the king."That will be hard to do without a sword " said king Minos and ordered the guards to take away his sword and guide him and his friends to a dark dungeon.

Late that night Ariadne came to the dungeon holding in her hand a sword and a spool of thread. "Come with me " she said "I will take you to the labyrinth. When we arrive there always turn to the right that's how you'll find the hall where the Minotaur is .That's the secret of the labyrinth."

"And how must I get out" asked Thesseus. "This will help you "she said giving him the golden thread. "As you go into the labyrinth unwind the thread. After you have killed the Minotaur,follow it back to me."

So Thesseus went into the dark labyrinth always turning to the right. Soon he could hear the roaring of the Minotaur. With each door he opened the sound grew louder. At last he stood outside the monster's room. He threw open the door and run in. With his powerful sword ,he killed the fierce monster. He picked up his sword and walked out of the room .The golden thread shone in the darkness. He foolowed it until he was again at Ariadne's side.

"Come,we must hurry" she said and they ran to the dungeon to free his friends. Soon he was with friends and Ariadne on board the ship sailing back to Athens forgetting to take down the black sail.

Aegeus had been sitting on the high cliff of Sounion watching for the ship day and night.Suddenly he saw it and groaned. "I no longer wish to live if you are dead my son " he said and jumped into the sea.