Recovery of Theseus's Bones
event · 2 works · 2 mentions · 3 anchored passages
the discovery and return of Theseus's bones · translation of Theseus's bones
in the texts
Cimon
Cimon's discovery and ceremonial repatriation of the legendary hero Theseus's bones from Scyros to Athens.
On learning that the ancient Theseus, son of Aegeus, had fled in exile from Athens to Scyros, but had been treacherously put to death there, through fear, by Lycomedes the king, Cimon eagerly sought to discover his grave.
For the Athenians had once received an oracle bidding them bring back the bones of Theseus to the city and honor him as became a hero, but they knew not where he lay buried, since the Scyrians would not admit the truth of the story, nor permit any search to be made.
Theseus
The oracle-directed search for, discovery of, and ceremonial return of Theseus's bones to Athens by Cimon.
And after the Median wars, in the Archonship of Phaedo, when the Athenians were consulting the oracle at Delphi, they were told by the Pythian priestess to take up the bones of Theseus, give them honorable burial at Athens, and guard them there.