Theseus grew up in Troezen, far from his father Aegeus. Come of age, he lifted the rock that hid his father's sword and sandals and set out on foot for Athens, along the perilous road of the Isthmus.
On reaching Eleusis, Theseus was challenged to a wrestling match to the death by the brutal Cercyon, who killed every loser. Theseus beat him with skill rather than brute force — said to be the birth of the art of wrestling.
On the plain of Marathon, Theseus captured the Marathonian Bull that was ravaging Attica — the very bull Heracles had once brought from Crete. He led it to Athens and sacrificed it to Apollo.
Arriving at last in Athens, Theseus was recognised by his father Aegeus on the sacred rock of the Acropolis. As king, he united the scattered communities of Attica into a single city — the synoikismos.
On Crete, Theseus volunteered to enter the Labyrinth of Knossos to slay the Minotaur and save the young Athenians sent as tribute. He found his way out by unwinding the thread given to him by Ariadne, daughter of Minos.
At the Isthmus of Corinth, Theseus met the bandit Sinis the 'pine-bender', who tied travellers between two bent pines and tore them apart. Theseus dealt with him in exactly the same way.