In Troezen, a small city in southern Greece, lived a young man named Theseus. He was raised by his mother, Aethra, and his grandfather, King Pittheus.

But Theseus had a secret: his true father was Aegeus, king of Athens.

Years before, Aegeus had visited Troezen. He and Aethra fell in love! But Aegeus had to return to Athens, his city.

Before leaving, Aegeus took Aethra to a large rock. With immense effort, he pushed the rock aside.

"When our son grows strong enough to move this rock," said Aegeus, "he will find underneath it my sandals and my sword! Let him bring them to me in Athens! Thus I will know he is truly my son!"

And Aegeus departed, never knowing if he would have a son...

Theseus grew strong and brave! When he turned sixteen, his mother took him to the rock!

"Son," said Aethra, "it's time to tell you the truth! Your father is Aegeus, king of Athens! If you can move this rock, you'll find the proof!"

Theseus grabbed the rock! It was immense, heavy as a mountain! But Theseus pushed with all his strength!

Muscles tensed! Sweat pouring! And slowly... the rock... Moved!

Underneath were Aegeus's sandals and sword, perfectly preserved.

"I'll go to Athens!" declared Theseus. "I'll find my father!"

"But son," said Aethra nervously, "go by boat! The sea is safe! The land route is too dangerous!"

The land route between Troezen and Athens was infested with bandits and monsters! Six terrible villains controlled the road, killing and robbing travelers!

"That's exactly why I must go by land!" said Theseus. "Heracles cleaned Greece of monsters! I'll do the same with these bandits! I'll prove I'm worthy of being a king's son!"

It was a dangerous but noble choice! Theseus wanted not just to reach Athens - he wanted to make the world better along the way!

He departed, with his father's sword at his waist and courage in his heart.

First Villain: Periphetes, THE Clubber

The first bandit Theseus encountered was Periphetes - a brutal giant who carried an enormous bronze club.

Periphetes waited in Epidaurus, attacking travelers! "Give me your money, boy!" he roared, brandishing the club!

"Never!" shouted Theseus!

Periphetes attacked with the club! Whoosh! Theseus dodged! The giant was strong but slow!

Theseus waited for the right moment... and Attacked! With Aegeus's sword, he defeated Periphetes!

The bandit fell! Theseus took the bronze club as a trophy! "This club that was used for evil, I will use for good!"

Second Villain: Sinis, THE Pine-bender

The next villain was Sinis - a cruel man with terrible strength.

Sinis had a horrible method: he would bend two pine trees to the ground, tie his victim between them, and then release the trees! The person would be torn apart!

"Another traveler!" laughed Sinis when he saw Theseus. "Help me bend these trees!"

Theseus pretended to agree! They bent one pine together! But when Sinis was distracted, Theseus attacked!

They fought! Sinis was strong! But Theseus was faster and smarter!

Finally, Theseus defeated Sinis... using the bandit's own cruel method against him.

"May your own evil destroy you!" said Theseus.

Third Villain: THE SOW OF Crommyon

This wasn't a human bandit - it was a giant and wild sow named Phaea.

The beast terrorized the Crommyon region, devouring crops and even people! It had tusks sharp as swords and was as large as a bull!

Theseus hunted it through the forest! The sow was fast and fierce! It charged at Theseus with its tusks!

Theseus dodged and counter-attacked with his sword! The battle was fierce!

Finally, Theseus defeated the sow! The inhabitants of Crommyon celebrated him as a hero!

Fourth Villain: Cercyon, THE Wrestler

Cercyon was a brutal wrestler who challenged all travelers.

"Fight me!" he demanded when he saw Theseus. "If you lose, I'll kill you!"

"And if I win?" asked Theseus.

"No one has ever won!" laughed Cercyon!

They began to wrestle! Cercyon was immense and powerful! He grabbed Theseus in a crushing embrace!

But Theseus was trained in wrestling! He used technique, not just strength!

With a quick move, Theseus lifted Cercyon and Threw him to the ground with devastating force.

Cercyon never got up again. Theseus had defeated the undefeatable.

Fifth Villain: Damastes (procrustes), THE Stretcher

The fifth and perhaps cruelest villain was Damastes, also known as Procrustes ("the stretcher").

Procrustes offered false hospitality! "Tired traveler! Rest in my bed!"

But it was a trap! Procrustes had two beds - one very long and one very short!

If the victim was small, he placed them on the long bed and Stretched the person to death.

If the victim was large, he placed them on the short bed and CUT OFF the parts that stuck out.

"Perfect hospitality!" he would laugh. "Everyone fits perfectly in my beds!"

When Theseus arrived, Procrustes smiled maliciously! "Sleep here, young man!"

But Theseus was clever! "It's a magnificent bed! But first, show me how it works! You lie down first!"

Proudly, Procrustes lay down.

Immediately, Theseus tied him up! "See how YOUR own medicine tastes!"

And Theseus applied Procrustes's own cruel method to him.

"May those who torture be tortured by their own evil!" declared Theseus.

Sixth Villain: Sciron, THE Foot-washer

The last villain before Athens was Sciron - a seemingly harmless old man.

Sciron sat on a cliff above the sea. "Let me wash your tired feet from travel, young man!" he would offer kindly.

But when the victim sat down, Sciron would Kick them off the cliff! Below, a giant turtle would devour the bodies!

When Theseus arrived, Sciron made the same offer.

"How kind!" said Theseus. "But I insist - let ME wash YOUR feet first! You're older and deserve respect!"

Sciron, flattered and unsuspecting, sat down.

Theseus washed the old man's feet... and then, with a powerful kick, sent Sciron flying off his own cliff.

The giant turtle had a different meal that day.

Finally, after defeating the six villains, Theseus arrived in Athens.

The road was clean! Travelers could now pass safely! Theseus had proved to be a true hero!

When he entered Athens, the people greeted him! News of his victories had arrived first!

"Who is this young man?" everyone asked. "He defeated all the bandits on the road!"

Theseus went straight to the royal palace! There, on the throne, sat Aegeus - his father!

But Aegeus didn't recognize Theseus! How could he? He had never seen his son!

And there was a bigger problem: beside Aegeus stood Medea - the sorceress.

Medea had married Aegeus after fleeing from Jason! And she had her own evil plans...

Theseus's story will continue in Part 2, where he will face his greatest challenge: the Minotaur.