The King Must Die

The story is told by Theseus, looking back on his life from his vantage point as an adult. Book One: Troizen Theseus, growing up in Troizen, is the son of a priestess and an unknown man, although it is rumored that his father is Poseidon. As a young child, Theseus is shocked when he sees the "King Horse", whom he considers a noble beast, ritually sacrificed to the gods. His grandfather King Pittheus explains that the King was traditionally killed with the Horse, and even now a true king of the Hellene people may need to make the ultimate sacrifice for his people. It is during the horse sacrifice that Theseus first hears a surging sea-sound in his ears, a sense that an earthquake will soon occur. Over the following years, Theseus serves at Poseidon's temple. He is sent to hide in the hills when Cretan ships come to Troizen to take away young boys and girls as tribute to Minos for the bull dancing in Crete. Theseus is frustrated because he is shorter and lighter than most Hellenes his age, but becomes a skilled wrestler through strategy and agility. When Theseus turns seventeen, his mother takes him to the sacred Grove of Zeus in the hills and explains that his father made her swear not to tell Theseus who he was until he could pry up a certain heavy stone. Theseus figures out how to move it using a lever, and finds a sword and sandals underneath. His grandfather explains that Theseus is the only son and heir of King Aigeus of Athens. Theseus decides to go to Athens via the bandit-infested land route: the Isthmus of Corinth. Book Two: Eleusis In Eleusis, a matriarchical and non-Hellene society focused on worship of the Earth mother goddess, it is the custom to sacrifice their king each year. Entering Eleusis, Theseus is chosen to kill Kerkyon, the year-king, and replace him. He soon learns that the Queen rules in Eleusis. As King, he has no real power and will die in one year's time. He takes his guard of Eleusinian youths on hunts to build their independence and camaraderie, killing the great sow Phaia and making war on brigands. The Queen, who correctly anticipates that Theseus is trying to overthrow the established order, tries to have him assassinated but fails. She is bitten by a venomous snake during a suicide attempt. Theseus allows her to leave Eleusis apparently to die, although he later acknowledges that he does not know her fate. Book Three: Athens Theseus finally goes to Athens. Aigeus, on the urging of his lover Medea, serves him poisoned wine but recognises Theseus's sword and realizes who he is just in time. When Medea's plot fails, she pronounces a curse on Theseus and vanishes from Athens. Aigeus proclaims Theseus his son and heir. When a Cretan ship comes to collect a yearly tribute of seven boys and seven girls from Athens, Theseus, feeling led by Poseidon, offers himself in one boy's place and becomes a Cretan slave. Book Four: Crete In Crete, Theseus and the other tributes – under the team name of Cranes – become bull-dancers. They develop a strong unity and survive for months without a single member dying, which is unheard of. Adapting to the cultured society of the Minoan court, Theseus becomes the lover of Ariadne, the young princess who ranks as "Goddess on Earth" in the formerly matriarchal hierarchy. They meet secretly in the tunnels beneath the sprawling Knossos Palace, which is called the Labyrinth. Theseus envisages conquering Crete, which has become an indolent, effete civilisation; though much more sophisticated and advanced than the mainland kingdoms. The king, Minos, is wasting away from leprosy due to the machinations of his brutish heir Asterion, whose title is Minotaur. Asterion is gathering power to take the throne, which will include wedding Ariadne, his half-sister. Theseus meets with the dying Minos and plans are made to foil Asterion. Ultimately Theseus slays Minos at the latter's request, promising to marry Ariadne. Immediately after the death of Minos, Theseus senses a major approaching earthquake. As the quake strikes, he leads the bull-dancers and Cretan serfs in a revolt against the aristocracy of the Labyrinth. Asterion is already taking part in the ritual to make himself the new Minos, wearing a bull mask. Theseus interrupts the ceremony and fatally wounds the Minotaur in combat. Seeing that Asterion had already been anointed with oil, Theseus puts on the mask and sacrifices the dying Asterion, using a sacred axe. Book Five: Naxos The Cranes, plus Ariadnewhom Theseus intends to marryset sail for Greece. They land on the island of Dia, whose city is Naxos. The people welcome Ariadne as the Goddess on Earth, and she takes part in their rituals to Dionysos in which they sacrifice their year king. At the same time, Theseus ends up joining in a Maenean orgy. Afterwards, Theseus finds Ariadne asleep drenched in the king’s blood and clutching a body part. He realizes that, born of an old and decadent line, his lover has played a brutal part in the sacrifice. Appalled, he gathers his companions and sets sail before she wakes; even knowing she would be heartbroken by his departure and possibly believe he took another woman with him in her place. As they travel home, Theseus remembers Aigeus's request that he paint his sail white. He is concerned that Aigeus will read the white sail as a sign to sacrifice himself. He asks Poseidon for a sign, and reads it to mean that he should do nothing, never anticipating that Aigeus will throw himself to his death when he sees the black sail. ==Characters==