Theseus was an ancient Greek hero who is the main character in many myths. His father was Aegeus, and his mother was Aethra. He is best known for the defeating the monsters and criminals (such as Procrustus who made travellers fit his special bed by stretching them or cutting off their feet) he met on his way to Athens, and killing the minotaur on the island of Crete. Later in life, he became king of Athens after his father, Aegeus.