near Chaeronea； and buried near the little rivulet formerly called
Thermodon； but now Haemon； of which an account is given in the life of
Demosthenes。 It appears further that the passage of the Amazons
through Thessaly was not without opposition； for there are yet shown
many tombs of them near Scotussa and Cynoscephalae。
This is as much as is worth telling concerning the Amazons。 For
the account which the author of the poem called the Theseid gives of
this rising of the Amazons； how Antiope； to revenge herself upon
Theseus for refusing her and marrying Phaedra； came down upon the city
with her train of Amazons； whom Hercules slew； is manifestly nothing
else but fable and invention。 It is true； indeed； that Theseus married
Phaedra； but that was after the death of Antiope； by whom he had a son
called Hippolytus； or； as Pindar writes； Demophon。 The calamities
which befell Phaedra and this son； since none of the historians have
contradicted the tragic poets that have written of them； we must
suppose happened as represented uniformly by them。
There are also other traditions of the marriages of Theseus； neither
honourable in their occasions nor fortunate in their events； which yet
were never represented in the Greek plays。 For he is said to have
carried off Anaxo； a Troezenian； and having slain Sinnis and
Cercyon； to have ravished their daughters； to have married Periboea；
the mother of Ajax； and then Phereboea； and then Iope； the daughter of
Iphicles。 And further； he is accused of deserting Ariadne （as is
before related）； being in love with Aegle； the daughter of Panopeus；
neither justly nor honourably； and lastly； of the rape of Helen； which
filled all Attica with war and blood； and was in the end the
occasion of his banishment and death； as will presently be related。
Herodorus is of opinion； that though there were many famous
expeditions undertaken by the bravest men of his time； yet Theseus
never joined in any of them； once only excepted； with the Lapithae； in
their war against the Centaurs； but others say that he accompanied
Jason to Colchis and Meleager to the slaying of the Calydonian boar；
and that hence it came to be a proverb； Not without Theseus； that he
himself； however； without aid of any one； performed many glorious
exploits； and that from him began the saying； He is a second Hercules。
He also joined Adrastus in recovering the bodies of those that were
slain before Thebes； but not as Euripides in his tragedy says； by
force of arms； but by persuasion and mutual agreement and composition；
for so the greater part of the historians write； Philochorus adds
further that this was the first treaty that ever was made for the
recovering the bodies of the dead； but in the history of Hercules；
it is shown that it was he who first gave leave to his enemies to
carry off their slain。 The burying…places of the most part are yet
to be seen in the villa called Eleutherae； those of the commanders； at
Eleusis； where Theseus allotted them a place； to oblige Adrastus。
The story of Euripides in his suppliants is disproved by Aeschylus
in his Eleusinians； where Theseus himself relates the facts as here
told。
The celebrated friendship between Theseus and Pirithous is said to
have been thus began； the fame of the strength and valour of Theseus
being spread through Greece； Pirithous was desirous to make a trial
and proof of it himself； and to this end seized a herd of oxen which
belonged to Theseus； and was driving them away from Marathon； and；
when the news was brought that Theseus pursued him in arms； he did not
fly； but turned back and went to meet him。 But as soon as they had
viewed one another； each so admired the gracefulness and beauty； and
was seized with such respect for the courage of the other； that they
forgot all thoughts of fighting； and Pirithous； first stretching out
his hand to Theseus； bade him be judge in this case himself； and
promised to submit willingly to any penalty he should impose。 But
Theseus not only forgave him all； but entreated him to be his friend
and brother in arms； and they ratified their friendship by oaths。
After this Pirithous married Deidamia； and invited Theseus to the
wedding； entreating him to come and see his country； and make
acquaintance with the Lapithae； he had at the same time invited the
Centaurs to the feast； who growing hot with wine and beginning to be
insolent and wild； and offering violence to the women； the Lapithae
took immediate revenge upon them； slaying many of them upon the place；
and afterwards； having overcome them in battle； drove the whole race
of them out of their country； Theseus all along taking their part
and fighting on their side。 But Herodorus gives a different relation
of these things； that Theseus came not to the assistance of the
Lapithae till the war was already begun； and that it was in this
journey that he had his first sight of Hercules； having made it his
business to find him out at Trachis； where he had chosen to rest
himself after all his wanderings and his labours； and that this
interview was honourably performed on each part； with extreme respect；
and good…will； and admiration of each other。 Yet it is more
credible； as others write； that there were； before； frequent
interviews between them； and that it was by the means of Theseus
that Hercules was initiated at Eleusis； and purified before
initiation； upon account of several rash actions of his former life。
Theseus was now fifty years old； as Hellanicus states； when he
carried off Helen； who was yet too young to be married。 Some
writers； to take away this accusation of one of the greatest crimes
laid to his charge； say； that he did not steal away Helen himself； but
that Idas and Lynceus were the ravishers； who brought her to him；
and committed her to his charge； and that； therefore； he refused to
restore her at the demand of Castor and Pollux； or； indeed； they say
her own father； Tyndarus； had sent her to be kept by him； for fear
of Enarophorus； the son of Hippocoon； who would have carried her
away by force when she was yet a child。 But the most probable account；
and that which has most witnesses on its side； is this： Theseus and
Pirithous went both together to Sparta； and； having seized the young
lady as she was dancing in the temple Diana Orthia； fled away with
her。 There were presently men sent in arms to pursue； but they
followed no further than to Tegea； and Theseus and Pirithous； being
now out of danger； having passed through Peloponnesus； made an
agreement between themselves； that he to whom the lot should fall
should have Helen to his wife； but should be obliged to assist in
procuring another for his friend。 The lot fell upon Theseus； who
conveyed her to Aphidnae； not being yet marriageable； and delivered
her to one of his allies； called Aphidnus； and； having sent his
mother； Aethra； after to take care of her； desired him to keep them so
secretly； that none might know where they were； which done； to
return the same service to his friend Pirithous； he accompanied him in
his journey to Epirus； in order to steal away the king of the
Molossians' daughter。 The king； his own name being Aidoneus； or Pluto；
called his wife Proserpina； and his daughter Cora； and a great dog；
which he kept； Cerberus； with whom he ordered all that came as suitors
to his daughter to fight； and promised her to him that should overcome
the beast。 But having been informed that the design of Pirithous and
his companion was not to court his daughter； but to force her away； he
caused them both to be seized； and threw Pirithous to be torn in
pieces by his dog； and put Theseus into prison； and kept him。
About this time； Menestheus； the son of Peteus； grandson of
Orneus； and great…grandson of Erechtheus； the first man that is
recorded to have affected popularity and ingratiated himself with
the multitude； stirred up and exasperated the most eminent men of
the city； who had long borne a secret grudge to Theseus； conceiving
that he had robbed them of their several little kingdoms and
lordships； and having pent them all up in one city； was using them
as his subjects and slaves。 He put also the meaner people into
commotion； telling them； that； deluded with a mere dream of liberty；
though indeed they were deprived of both that and of their proper
homes and religious usages； instead of many good and gracious kings of
their own； they had given themselves up to be lorded over by a
new…comer and a stranger。 Whilst he was thus busied in infecting the
minds of the citizens； the war that Castor and Pollux brought
against Athens came very opportunely to further the sedition he had
been promoting； and some say that by his persuasions was wholly the
cause of their invading the city。 At their first approach； they
committed no acts of hostility； but peaceably demanded their sister
Helen； but the Athenians returning answer that they neither had her
there nor knew where she was disposed of； they prepared to assault the
city； when Academus； having； by whatever means； found it out；
disclosed to them that she was secretly kept at Aphidnae。 For which
reason he was both highly honoured during his life by Castor and
Pollux； and the Lacedaemonians； when often in aftertimes they made
incursions into Attica； and destroyed all the country round about；
spared the Academy for the sake of Academus。 But Dicaearchus writes
that there were two Arcadians in the army of Castor and Pollux； the
one called Echedemus； and the other Marathus； from the first that
which is now called Academia was then named Echedemia； and the village
Marathon had its name from the other； who； to fulfil some oracle；
voluntarily offered himself to be made a sacrifice before battle。 As
soon as they were arrived at Aphidnae； they overcame their enemies
in a set battle； and then assaulted and took the town。 And here；
they say； Alycus； the son of Sciron； was slain； of the party of the
Dioscuri （Castor and Pollux）； from whom a place in Megara； where he
was buried； is called Alycus to this day。 And Hereas writes that it
was Theseus himself that killed him； in witness of which he cites
these verses concerning Alycus…
〃And Alycus upon Aphidnae's plain；