PIRITHOUS
& THESEUS
Author’s
Note:
Pirithous
and Theseus were kings of Greece and sons to the Gods.
Pirithous was the King of Lapiths in Thessaly and thought to be
fathered by Zeus. Theseus was king of Athens and was fathered by Aegeus
and Poseidon. They were both heroes for their kingdoms and both were
very proud. The two pledged an oath to help the other kidnap a daughter
of Zeus so that they might have them for wives. First, Theseus chose to
take Helen of Sparta. The two kidnapped her, from her home, when she
was merely thirteen years of age. Since she was not old enough yet to
marry, the two decided to hold her against her will until she was of
the appropriate age.
Pirithous’
ambitions were much bolder. He
decided that he would venture to the Underworld and steal the object of
Hades’ love, Persephone, for himself. Theseus, knowing this to be
madness, did not agree to assist Pirithous at first, but, feeling
obligated to his oath, he consented. Though the two were captured,
Theseus was later freed by Herakles, who was on a mission to fight
Cerberos, Hades' hound. Herakles tried, but could not free Pirithous
from his bonds.
The
story of Pirithous and Theseus in this
retelling will focus upon Hades’ wrath as well as Persephone’s reaction
to the kidnapping the two kings had planned. An unlikely relationship
that is not in the original telling of this story develops. This
relationship will rock the walls of the Underworld and will also change
the lives of all who have been involved in these stories thus far.
The
story picks up two days after Persephone and Aristeas departed from
Hades’ library. Before the two left one another, Persephone imparted to
Aristeas one glaring concern about their journey ahead. She stated that
she did not know how they would hide Aristeas from the creatures they
would encounter. If anyone of Hades’ many minions would see him they
would surely inform Hades of their escape.
Aristeas,
remembering the tale of the War of the Titans, told Persephone they
must find the Helmet of Invisibility. After Persephone helped Aristeas
to escape his dungeon well, the two ventured to Tartarus, where they
believed the helmet to be. Once there they stole the helmet from a
trophy room where the weapons of imprisoned Gods were kept. The two now
travel away from Tartarus and toward their escape.
We traveled for what seemed like an
entire day, until we came to the
River Styx. There alone in the darkness stood a horse of striking size
and beauty.
“This is Hades’ greatest horse,
Dreopa. He will
help us get to Agrae quickly. Hades, I fear has already found we are
gone. He will be coming for us.”
“How do you know this?” I asked.
“Because his mind is connected to
the book, which I have stolen,” Persephone answered.
“Why would you do such a thing?” I
exclaimed.
“To bargain with. You will see.
Quickly, get on the horse and put on the helmet, we must go.”
We
rode on, for what seemed like days, until we finally came to Taenarus.
There on a wall not far from us sat a battered man trapped on a stone
chair by serpent coils. Persephone, quickly jumped from Dreopa and ran
towards the man.
“Pirithous,” she screamed.
The two
embraced and looked long into each other’s eyes. Persephone released
him from his bonds and we tried to leave at that moment but Pirithous
was too weak to be traveling. We decided to rest for a short while.
While we were resting Persephone
gave me Hades’ Scroll from which I read Pirithous’ story aloud.
“Two
wretched human kings came unto me this day. They thought not that I
knew of their intentions. Zeus had already informed me that his
daughter Helen of Sparta had been taken and that men would be coming to
take Persephone as well. The two men wished to have an audience with
Persephone and me. They spoke of hearing about our great deeds. I knew
they wished my hospitality so they could steal Persephone while I was
comfortable and unaware of their intentions. I called Persephone before
the men and asked that she sing for us. I told both Pirithous and
Theseus to sit in my chair, the throne of Lethe which will make any man
forget all. When they sat down their bodies grew unto the chair and
they were held down by serpent’s coils. As the men slowly forgot
everything they knew, I had the chair taken to the Path of Taenarus,
the main entrance unto the Earth. There, they would be eternally
tortured with the knowledge of how close their freedom lies.”
Persephone
spoke solemnly. “I come to him in this place every so often, in secret.
I remind him of who he is. Although, at times, he does not even know
his name, he speaks of the first time we met. He still speaks of how
much he loves me. I must save him from his torment. I’ve stolen the
scroll to ensure that Hades will not look for him, after our escape; or
for you. If we didn’t have something to hold against him, Hades would
hunt you mercilessly forever.”
Once we reached the cave that
was to take us to Agrae, Persephone commanded Dreopa to take flight.
After some time of riding I saw an embankment where Agrae was located
on the map.
“It’s there,” I yelled.
“Whoa…," howled Persephone, causing
Dreopa to come to a sudden stop.
“Ahhh, it has begun,” Persephone
gladly stated as she smiled in a peaceful sort of manner, staring at
the cave ceiling.
“What has begun?” I asked.
“The
Eleusinian mysteries. They are ceremonies and rituals held every year
in honor of my mother Demeter, and me. They celebrate the changing of
the seasons and the rewards of the afterlife. They will soon plant
seeds in the ground for which I will take hold and begin the cycle of
regeneration upon the earth."
Suddenly behind Persephone, down
the tunnel not far off, I could see a bright red light moving toward
us.
“Persephone, I think Hades has
found us,” I muttered worriedly.
At
that moment the ceiling parted and vines began to come down and wrap
around Persephone. Hades would reach us in a matter of seconds. The
vines picked Persephone and then all of us into the air, taking us upon
the earth while Hades chariot barreled in where we stood.
Persephone
was lifted fifty feet into the air with Hades' Scroll held high in her
hand. The worshippers of the ritual stopped everything and bowed down
to Persephone in admiration and shock.
Suddenly a great flame
came from out of the sky and snatched the book from out of Persephone’s
hand. I thought it to be Hades at first, but then the ground burst open
sending flames, rock and earth in every direction.
Hades
stormed upon the earth from underneath. He was panting and his eyes
showed his rage. He looked upon me and then at Pirithous.
“Stop!”
Persephone screamed. Hades, about to strike down Pirithous, stopped and
glared at Persephone. “You will hold Pirithous and Aristeas no longer
underneath your foot. They are free men now.”
“And what makes you think that my
dear?” Hades replied snarling.
“I
have your book and your helmet. I have given the book to Apollo for him
to keep. You know very well what will happen if the book is destroyed.
You will lose all memory. You will be like an orphaned child, never
knowing what to make of your past or your future."
Persephone
went on. “Apollo will talk to you in time of his wishes. I believe he
has his own agenda with you. For now, I will give you your helmet back
if you agree to leave and forget these two men.”
“You, woman, are not free from me.
You are bound to me,” Hades said angrily.
“Yes
I know. I will spend my winters with you for all eternity, for that I
know. But know that I will not allow you to torture these men any
longer.”
There was a momentary silence as
Hades decided what
he should do. The onlookers were astonished and scared. Hades finally
returned angrily into the earth with his helmet. As he left, Persephone
caused the ground to grow together once again.
That night Persephone, Pirithous,
and I sat by a stream until the sun rose. I had never felt so fulfilled
to see a sunrise.
“This
was all set in motion long ago,” Persephone said as she smiled. “Apollo
and I had something we wanted. I wanted Pirithous to be free and Apollo
wanted to see his son, Orpheus, freed from Tartarus where Hades has
imprisoned him. Apollo knew that keeping you in the underworld would
help us all. He was right. Good-bye, Aristeas, I will never forget
you.”
Persephone rode off into the
sunrise with Pirithous clinching her waist.
I turned and faced Apollo who had
swooped down from the sky behind me.
He
looked down upon me and bowed his head. It was the first time I had
ever seen him bow to anyone. “I’m sorry that you had to endure so much.
If you give me the chance I would like to explain everything to you.”
“You
do not have to explain. I understand it was for the love of your son. I
am proud to serve you, Apollo, and will always be proud.”
Apollo smiled and together, we
walked upon the earth for many days speaking of the adventures I had
undertaken.
Epilogue:
My
name is Aristeas. There is a prophecy that states I will die five
times; I have died four. The first time I died I fought for love,
the second was for kingdom, the third for pride, and the fourth was
for honor. I do not know what this next life will bring, but I do
know I will no longer remember my life for how I died but rather
remember it for how I lived.
Picture of
man (Tantalus) in Tartarus: Ask
Website
COVERPAGE
Web Source: Theoi.com
Story
Titles: Hades Wrath: Pirithous & Theseus
Web Source: Wikipedia