Theseus

Theseus, in Greek mythology, son of King Aegeus and princess Aethra, renowned for his heroism. As a youth he went to Crete with other youths to be sacrificed to the Minotaur, but instead succeeded in killing the beast. On his voyage back to Athens, he failed to fly his ship's white sails, a symbol of his safe return. Aegeus thought his son was dead and killed himself in his grief. Theseus was then declared king.

See also: Mythology.