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t famous was his deliverance of Athens from the frightful tribute imposed upon it by Minos for the murder of his son。 This consisted of seven youths and seven maidens whom the Athenians were compelled to send every nine years to Crete； there to be devoured by the Minotaur； a monster with a human body and a bull's head； which Minos kept concealed in an inextricable labyrinth。 The third ship was already on the point of sailing with its cargo of innocent victims； when Theseus offered to go with them； hoping to put an end for ever to the horrible tribute。 Ariadne； the daughter of Minos； became enamoured of the hero； and having supplied him with a clue to trace the windings of the labyrinth； Theseus succeeded in killing the monster； and in tracking his way out of the mazy lair。 Theseus； on his return； became king of Attica； and proceeded to lay the foundations of the future greatness of the country。 He united into one political body the twelve independent states into which Cecrops had divided Attica； and made Athens the capital of the new kingdom。 He then divided the citizens into three classes； namely； EUPATRIDAE； or nobles； GEOMORI； or husbandmen； and DEMIURGI； or artisans。
Minos； king of Crete； whose history is connected with that of Theseus； appears； like him； the representative of an historical and civil state of life。 Minos is said to have received the laws of Crete immediately from Zeus； and traditions uniformly present him as king of the sea。 Possessing a numerous fleet； he reduced the surrounding islands； especially the Cyclades； under his dominion； and cleared the sea of pirates。
The voyage of the Argonauts and the Trojan war were the most memorable enterprises undertaken by collective bodies of heroes。
The Argonauts derived their name from the Argo； a ship built For the adventurers by Jason； under the superintendence of Athena （Minerva）。 They embarked in the harbour of Iolcus in Thessaly for the purpose of obtaining the golden fleece which was preserved in AEa in Colchis； on the eastern shores of the Black Sea； under the guardianship of a sleepless dragon。 The most renowned heroes of the age took part in the expedition。 Among them were Hercules and Theseus； as well as the principal leaders in the Trojan war； but Jason is the central figure and the real hero of the enterprise。 Upon arriving at AEa； after many adventures； king AEtes promised to deliver to Jason the golden fleece； provided he yoked two fire…breathing oxen with brazen feet； and performed other wonderful deeds。 Here； also； as in the legend of Theseus； love played a prominent part。 Medea； the daughter of AEtes； who was skilled in magic and supernatural arts； furnished Jason with the means of accomplishing the labours imposed upon him； and as her father still delayed to surrender the fleece； she cast the dragon asleep during the night； seized the fleece； and sailed away in the Argo with her beloved Jason。
The Trojan war was the greatest of all the heroic achievements。 It formed the subject of innumerable epic poems； and has been immortalised by the genius of Homer。 Paris； son of Priam； king of Troy； abused the hospitality of Menelaus； king of Sparta； by carrying off his wife Helen； the most beautiful woman of the age。 All the Grecian princes looked upon the outrage as one committed against themselves。 Responding to the call of Menelaus； they assembled in arms； elected his brother Agamemnon； king of Mycenae； leader of the expedition； and sailed across the AEgean in nearly 1200 ships to recover the faithless fair one。 Several of the confederate heroes excelled Agamemnon in fame。 Among them Achilles； chief of the Thessalian Myrmidons； stood pre…eminent in strength； beauty； and valour； whilst Ulysses； king of Ithaca； surpassed all the rest in the mental qualities of counsel and eloquence。 Among the Trojans； Hector； one of the sons of Priam； was most distinguished for heroic qualities and formed a striking contrast to his handsome but effeminate brother Paris。 Next to Hector in valour stood AEneas； son of Anchises and Aphrodite （Venus）。 Even the gods took part in the contest； encouraging their favourite heroes； and sometimes fighting by their side or in their stead。
It was not till the tenth year of the war that Troy yielded to the inevitable decree of fate； and it is this year which forms the subject of the Iliad。 Achilles； offended by Agamemnon； abstains from the war； and in his absence the Greeks are no match for Hector。 The Trojans drive them back into their camp； and are already setting fire to their ships； when Achilles gives his armour to his friend Patroclus； and allows him to charge at the head of the Myrmidons。 Patroclus repulses the Trojans from the ships； but the god Apollo is against him； and he falls under the spear of Hector。 Desire to avenge the death of his friend proves more powerful in the breast of Achilles than anger against Agamemnon。 He appears again in the field in new and gorgeous armour； forged for him by the god Hephrastus （Vulcan） at the prayer of Thetis。 The Trojans fly before him； and； although Achilles is aware that his own death must speedily follow that of the Trojan hero； he slays Hector in single combat。
The Iliad closes with the burial of Hector。 The death of Achilles and the capture of Troy were related in later poems。 The hero of so many achievements perishes by an arrow shot by the unwarlike Paris； but directed by the hand of Apollo。 The noblest combatants had now fallen on either side； and force of arms had proved unable to accomplish what stratagem at length effects。 It is Ulysses who now steps into the foreground and becomes the real conqueror of Troy。 By his advice a wooden horse is built； in whose inside he and other heroes conceal themselves。 The infatuated Trojans admit the horse within their walls。 In the dead of night the Greeks rush out and open the gates to their comrades。 Troy is delivered over to the sword； and its glory sinks in ashes。 The fall of Troy is placed in the year 1184 B。C。
The return of the Grecian leaders from Troy forms another series of poetical legends。 Several meet with tragical ends。 Agamemnon is murdered on his arrival at Mycenae； by his wife Clytaemnestra and her paramour AEgisthus。 But of these wanderings the most celebrated and interesting are those of Ulysses； which form the subject of the Odyssey。 After twenty years' absence he arrives at length in Ithaca； where he slays the numerous suitors who devoured his substance and contended for the hand of his wife Penelope。
The Homeric poems must not be regarded as a record of historical persons and events； but； at the same time； they present a valuable picture of the institutions and manners of the earliest known state of Grecian society。
In the Heroic age Greece was already divided into a number of independent states； each governed by its own king。 The authority of the king was not limited by any laws； his power resembled that of the patriarchs in the Old Testament； and for the exercise of it he was responsible only to Zeus； and not to his people。 But though the king was not restrained in the exercise of his power by any positive laws； his authority was practically limited by the BOULE