The King Must Die

The King Must Die (1958), a historical novel by Mary Renault, tells the life story of Theseus, a hero of Greek Myth, using plausible historical world-building to create a realistic story that might have served as the basis for the myth that evolved.

Theseus, now an old man, narrates the events of his life. He begins with his childhood, describing the palace of his grandfather, King Pittheus of Troizen. He recounts a disturbing scene he witnessed at age six, the ritualistic slaughter of a beautiful horse. Discussing the sacrifice, his grandfather tells him that in the old days, the king would have been killed along with the horse to please the gods; even in the modern day, the king must be prepared to die for his people.

Theseus serves in the temple of Poseidon, where he lives and works for three years. One day, Theseus has a premonition of disaster; shortly thereafter, an earthquake shakes the city. King Pittheus tells Theseus this is a sign that the gods have given him the power to protect the people.



Crete sends ships to Troizen to receive children who will be sacrificed in the bull dancing in tribute to Minos. Theseus asks Pittheus why they allow this, and Pittheus, telling Theseus they cannot resist Cretan power, sends the boy away so he will be spared.

Like most Greeks, Theseus studies wrestling. Although initially frustrated because he is small and thin, he compensates by adjusting his style. When Theseus turns seventeen, his mother tells him that she was forbidden from telling him whom his father is until he can lift a heavy stone in the Grove of Zeus. Theseus tries but fails; later, he realizes he can use a lever to lift the stone. Under it, he finds a sword and sandals. Pittheus tells Theseus he is the son of the King of Athens and his rightful heir.

Theseus travels to Athens along a route that is infested with bandits. He comes to the city of Eleusis, where, annually, they sacrifice their king to the gods. As he enters the city, he is met by the Queen, Persephone, who tells him he must wrestle the king, who is fated to die that day. Theseus does so, finding the king to be stronger until Persephone and other women begin a chant asking the gods to assist Theseus. Theseus defeats the king, becoming the Year-King as a result, and the new husband of Persephone.



Due to the short term of his position, he has no power as king; the Queen is the true ruler. Theseus begins to plot against the Queen, building a base of support and pursuing works that he hopes will convince people to place him in control instead of Persephone (and thus spare his life). He embarks on a campaign to rid the road of bandits. Xanthos, Persephone’s brother, makes several attempts to assassinate him, but fails, and Theseus kills him in a duel.

Theseus travels to Athens to meet his father. Initially, King Aigeus does not recognize him. His wife, Medea, does and fearing her sons will not gain the throne, she convinces Aigeus to poison Theseus. At the last moment, Aigeus recognizes the sword Theseus carries and slaps the poisoned cup away from him. He banishes Medea and her children, proclaiming Theseus his heir. The Cretans arrive demanding children. Theseus saves a boy by taking his place, declaring it the will of the gods.

The children must learn the Bull Dance. Though the bulls will chase them, they will have a chance to survive if they learn the dance well. Bringing the sacrificed children together, Theseus tells them they are no longer from separate kingdoms but are one people called the Cranes. He forms them into a team. When they arrive in Crete, they are met by a delegation from the palace. Theseus, not realizing they speak Greek, insults King Minos’s son, Asterion.



Theseus and the Cranes are taken to the palace, which the Cretans call the Labyrinth. Theseus meets a priestess, Ariadne, and is strongly attracted to her. The Bull Dancers are free to roam and train, and Theseus observes many love affairs being conducted. After a death at a Bull Dance performance, Theseus makes the Cranes swear an oath that they will not sacrifice each other to survive. The team survives for three months, a new record.

Theseus is a celebrity, but he finds Cretan society to be decadent and rotten. He meets the king’s young daughter, Phaedra, and tells her that if he lives he will be a king and they can be married. Theseus sends a message to King Aigeus telling him that Crete is weak, and begins organizing the Cranes to launch a rebellion. He finds a cache of weapons in the maze under the palace and meets Ariadne there, beginning an affair with her. She tells him that Asterion is making him ill, plotting to take power.
Theseus kills King Minos at the king’s request, but Asterion holds off announcing it as he gathers money and support. He attempts to rig the Bull Dance to kill Theseus, but fails. Theseus attacks and kills Asterion just as he is anointed the king.

The Cranes, Ariadne, and Theseus travel toward Greece, stopping at Naxos, where Theseus knows the king will be sacrificed the next day. Ariadne goes to the ceremony against Theseus’s wishes; when she returns, he suspects she has been drugged and raped. He ensures Ariadne will be treated well and then leaves her, taking the Cranes. When Theseus returns to Athens, he discovers that his father has committed suicide, and he is the king.