In Greek mythology, the hero Theseus is most famous for his conflict with the Minotaur in the Labyrinth on Crete. However, this was not his biggest contribution to Greece itself. According to Greek legend, Theseus was responsible for uniting all of Attica under the rulership of the city of Athens. This was of major importance in increasing Athens’ prestige and power.
What was Athens like before Theseus?
The earliest and best source for Theseus uniting Attica under the rule of Athens is Thucydides. He was a Greek historian from the fifth century BCE with a reputation for great accuracy, unlike Herodotus. His account of Theseus explains what Athens was like before the unification of Attica.
According to ancient Greek general and historian Thucydides, there were originally numerous separate towns in Attica. Each one had its magistrates, governors, and councils. Thus, each would independently make decisions, without any impact on or influence from the others.
The governors would only go to the King of Athens for help if they faced some danger. Hence, it might be appropriate to see this arrangement as a loose confederation of towns. According to Strabo, the towns in question, aside from Athens, were: Cecropia, Tetrapolis, Epacria, Deceleia, Eleusis, Aphidna, Thoricus, Brauron, Cytherus, Sphettus, and Cephisia.
Attica united by Theseus under the rule of Athens
Thucydides again provides the answer to how Theseus united various individual towns under the rulership of Athens. As the earliest source, it is by far the most valuable one.
Thucydides tells us that Theseus began uniting Attica after he came to the throne of Athens. He was said to have been a wise and powerful king. It appears that he first established order in Athens itself and then moved on to expanding Athens’ power over Attica. Thucydides then tells us:
“Theseus… dissolved the councils and magistracies of the rest of the towns; and assigning them all one hall and one council-house, brought them all to cohabit in the city that now is; and constrained them, enjoying their own as before, to use this one for their city, which (now when they all paid their duties to it) grew great and was by Theseus so delivered to posterity.”
Theseus eliminated the administrative arrangements of the towns, taking away their independence. Consequently, all the towns within Attica were compelled to use the council hall in Athens itself. This action created a central administration for all of Attica, with Athens as the head.
Theseus’ unification of Attica under the rule of Athens was such an important event in the city-state’s history that it has its own name. The Greeks referred to it as the synoecism of Attica. As Thucydides explains, they dedicated a festival to it—the Synoecia.
What does archaeology reveal about the synoecism of Attica?
To the Greeks, the synoecism of Attica was an important event in their history. Yet, the account involves Theseus, a figure from Greek mythology before the time of the Trojan War. Therefore, is there any evidence that this happened, or is this just a myth?
Due to archaeological evidence, many scholars today believe that the synoecism of Attica occurred in the eighth century BCE. Indeed, one source states:
“the process whereby the demes of Attica were fused into a central sympolity with Athens as the official capital and seat of government seems to have been mostly completed by c. 700.”
According to the same source, most scholars place the synoecism of Attica in the ninth and especially the eighth century BCE.
How this fit the dating of Theseus
How does this evidence indicate that Theseus was said to have lived in the generation before the Trojan War? Attempts have been made to place Theseus’ unification of Attica under Athens in the Mycenaean Age, based on evidence of Athenian dominance in the region during that era.
However, scholars have pointed out that such unity would not have survived the Greek Dark Ages. This means that any process of unification that occurred in the Mycenaean Era would have had to have been repeated later. Yet, the Greek records do not speak of any such thing happening after the time of Theseus. For them, Theseus’ synoecism was the most recent one.
Because of this, some scholars have argued that Theseus was likely a historical figure of the eighth century BCE. The book “Classical Mythology: Tenth Edition” explains that some scholars:
“On the basis of comparative studies… would… place the chronology of the legendary Mycenaean kings of Athens much closer in time to the chronology of the later historical monarchy.”
Indeed, this appears to be the answer regarding Theseus. After all, it also ties in with modern research about the true date of the Trojan War, such as by scholar Nikos Kokkinos. In summary, the evidence strongly suggests that Theseus, likely a historical figure, united Attica under the rule of Athens in the latter half of the eighth century BCE.
