Who forgot to change sails, leading to his father's death?

Explore the Certamen Mythology Exam. Prepare with tailored flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Get ready to master your test material!

The narrative of Theseus forgetting to change the sails is a poignant story from Greek mythology. Theseus was a heroic figure who traveled to Crete to confront the Minotaur, a monstrous creature that was half-man and half-bull, and to rescue the Athenian youths being sacrificed to it. With the promise of safe return, he signified his victory over the Minotaur by using white sails for his ship.

However, in a moment of forgetfulness or emotional turmoil, Theseus neglected to change the black sails, which symbolized mourning. As his ship returned to Athens, his father, King Aegeus, who had been watching for Theseus's return, saw the black sails and, believing his son had perished, tragically threw himself into the sea, resulting in his death. This story illustrates themes of fate, the consequences of one's actions, and parental relationships within mythology, highlighting the profound impact of Theseus's oversight on his father’s fate.

The other characters mentioned—Oedipus, Perseus, and Hector—do not share a similar storyline involving a mistake with sails leading directly to a parent’s death. Oedipus is known for his tragic fate tied to prophecies, Perse

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