Pittheus facts for kids

Pittheus was a wise king in Greek mythology. He ruled the city of Troezen in Argolis. He named the city after his brother, also called Troezen. Pittheus was the father of Aethra and the grandfather and teacher of the famous hero Theseus.

King Pittheus: A Wise Ruler

Pittheus was the son of Pelops, a powerful king. His mother was Dia, who might also be known as Hippodamia. Pittheus had two daughters, Aethra and Henioche. He was also the grandfather and teacher of the hero Theseus.

The ancient writer Euripides said Pittheus was the most respectful son of Pelops. He was known for being very wise. People believed he was good at understanding messages from the gods, like oracles. This is why Aegeus, a king, came to him for advice.

Pittheus was also said to have taught people how to speak well. Some even say he wrote a book about it. The writer Plutarch mentioned that Pittheus was highly respected for his knowledge and wisdom.

Pittheus's Early Life and Kingdom

Pittheus's father, Pelops, was one of the strongest kings in the Peloponnese. He had many children and was very wealthy. Pelops sent his sons to rule different cities.

Pittheus and his brother Troezen came from a region called Pisatis in Ancient Elis. They were welcomed by Aetius, a local ruler. Aetius's family had ruled the area for a long time.

Pittheus and Troezen settled in the country. They shared power with Aetius. So, the land was ruled by three kings instead of one. But the newcomers, Pittheus and Troezen, had the most power.

After Troezen died, Pittheus became the only king. He brought together the people from two villages, Hyperea and Anthea. He combined them into one modern city. Pittheus then renamed this city Troezen in honor of his brother.

Later, the hero Bellerophon visited Troezen. He wanted to marry Pittheus's daughter, Aethra. However, Bellerophon had to leave Corinth before the wedding could happen.

Pittheus and the Heroes

Theseus and the Lion Skin

A famous story about Theseus takes place in Pittheus's house. After finishing his amazing tasks, the hero Heracles came to visit Pittheus. Heracles placed his lion-skin on a couch. The skin looked so real, it seemed alive.

A little later, seven-year-old Theseus came into the room with his school friends. When the other children saw the skin of the Nemean lion, they were terrified. They thought it was a living lion and ran away. But Theseus stayed. He bravely grabbed an axe from a guard and attacked the lion-skin.

Theseus's Dangerous Journey

When Heracles became a slave in Lydia, bad people started causing trouble in Greece. No one was strong enough to stop them. Traveling by land from the Peloponnese to Athens became very dangerous.

Pittheus described all the dangerous people to Theseus. He told him what kind of monsters they were and what they did to travelers. Pittheus tried to convince Theseus to travel by sea, which was safer.

But Theseus was secretly inspired by his cousin Heracles' bravery. He did not listen to his grandfather's warnings. Instead, he traveled by road. Theseus eventually cleared the road of all the robbers and bandits.

The Misfortune of Hippolytus

Pittheus also played a part in the story of Hippolytus. Hippolytus was the son of Theseus, which made him Pittheus's great-grandson.

When Theseus became king of Athens, he married Phaedra. Theseus sent Hippolytus to live with Pittheus. Pittheus became Hippolytus's teacher. He raised him to be the next king of Troezen.

For a long time, people in Troezen would show visitors Pittheus's tomb. They also showed the chair where he used to sit when he made important decisions.

See also

In Spanish: Piteo para niños