The Irony of Theseus and Romulus
Theseus and Romulus are great ancient leaders who commanded large territories. Leadership is a great virtue that comes with integrity and respect for society. Ironically, both Theseus and Romulus are accused of indecent acts such as rape and domestic violence. The author writes, “Both stands charged with the rape of women; neither of them could avoid domestic misfortunes nor jealousy at home; but towards the close of their lives are both of them said to have incurred great odium with their countrymen, if that is, we may take the stories least like poetry as our guide to truth.”
The irony of leadership
The author finds it satirical that the ancient kings never prioritized the interests of their subjects. Most kings such as Theseus and Romulus were not leaders by merit, but lineage and inheritance. For instance, the reader realizes that most of these kings killed anybody who tried to oppose them. Additionally, they led with an iron fist and prioritized their popularism as opposed to serving the people. The author writes, "Both Theseus and Romulus were by nature meant for governors; neither lived up to the true character of a king, but fell off, and ran, the one into popularity, the other into tyranny, falling both into the same fault out of different passions.”
The irony of calamities and fortune
Ironically, the ancient leaders thrived because of their anger and senseless acts to reign their supremacy. The reader finds it satirical that one gets praised for going against humanity's principles. The Ancient kings were tactical in persuading people their evil acts were meant for the good of the entire generation, which was not the case. For instance, Theseus and Romulus were characterized by anger, and they could not withstand anybody standing in their way. The author asks, “If men’s calamities, again, are not to be wholly imputed to fortune, but refer themselves to differences of character, who will acquit either Theseus of Rash and unreasonable anger against his son, Romulus against his brother?”
The irony of polygamy
Theseus was famous for marrying many women. Sardonically, he continued to marry past even his old age. Surprisingly, he married Anaxo, an older woman past the age of marriage. The reader finds it satirical that an older man who cannot take care of a woman's sexual needs continues to marry. The author writes, “And indeed, the faults committed in the rapes of women admit of no plausible excuse in Theseus. First because of the often reputation of the crime; for he stole Ariadne, Antiope, Anaxo the Troezenian, at last Helen, when he was an old man, and she not marriageable; she a child, and he at an age past even lawful wedlock.”
The irony of King Sous
King Sous was a tactical leader who knew how to conquer his enemies through trickery. However, his personal life is tricky and ironic because his lineage is named after his son. The author writes, “Although he was justly had in admiration on his account, yet his family was not surnamed from him, but from his son Eurypon (of whom they were called Eurypontids); the reason of which was that Eurypon relaxed the rigor of the monarchy, seeking favor and popularity with the many.”
