Hercules, passing by the Molossians, was entertained in his way by
Aidoneus the king, who, in conversation, accidentally spoke of the
journey of Theseus and Pirithous into his country, of what they
had designed to do, and what they were forced to suffer. Hercules
was much grieved for the inglorious death of the one and the
miserable condition of the other. As for Pirithous, he thought it
useless to complain; but begged to have Theseus released for his
sake, and obtained that favor from the king. Theseus, being thus
set at liberty, returned to Athens, where his friends were not
wholly suppressed, and dedicated to Hercules all the sacred places
which the city had set apart for himself, changing their names
from Thesea to Herculea, four only excepted, as Philochorus
writes. And wishing immediately to resume the first place in the
commonwealth, and manage the state as before, he soon found
himself involved in factions and troubles; those who long had
hated him had now added to their hatred contempt; and the minds of
the people were so generally corrupted, that, instead of obeying
commands with silence, they expected to be flattered into their
duty. He had some thoughts to have reduced them by force, but was
overpowered by demagogues and factions. And at last, despairing of
any good success of his affairs in Athens, he sent away his
children privately to Euboea, commending them to the care of
Elephenor, the son of Chalcodon; and he himself, having solemnly
cursed the people of Athens in the village of Gargettus, in which
there yet remains the place called Araterion, or the place of
cursing, sailed to Scyros, where he had lands left him by his
father, and friendship, as he thought, with those of the island.
Lycomedes was then king of Scyros. Theseus, therefore, addressed
himself to him, and desired to have his lands put into his
possession, as designing to settle and dwell there, though others