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Medea manages though to instil such uncertainty in the mind of Aegeus, who fearing for his won position, agrees to poison the new hero. As Theseus is about to drink from the poisoned goblet, Aegeus recognises the sandals and sword as his own. Aegeus saves his son from drinking the poison.

Aegeus announces Theseus as his son and heir to the Athenian people. The Athenians are more than happy to have Theseus as their prince, as in addition to the capture of the Marathonian Bull; his exploits on the road to Athens have also been known. With this announcement, Medea is exiled. Pallas and his fifty sons though revolt, Theseus manages to kill one group of sons, forcing Pallas and his remaining sons to retreat.

Theseus now had a secure position in Athens. Athens though was in a position of sub servitude to King Minos of Crete. Minos demanded a sacrifice of seven maidens and seven male youths, to be made every nine years to the Minotaur. The reason for servitude was due to Athens losing a war against Crete following the death of King Minos' eldest son in Athens, and the proclamation of the Oracle of Delphi.

Theseus took the place of one of the youths, when the next lottery for sacrifice was held. Sailing in a ship with a black sail, Theseus promised his distraught father that he would return showing a white sail. On arrival in Crete, Ariadne, the daughter of King Minos, falls in love with Theseus. Ariadne gets Daedalus to supply a thread so that Theseus will not get lost in the Minotaur's Labyrinth. Ariadne also supplies a sword to kill the Minotaur.

Theseus is successful in killing the Minotaur, and manages to escape from Crete with Ariadne and the other Athenian youths. There is some debate as to what happens to Ariadne. In some versions of the story she is abandoned on Naxos, as the goddess Minerva tells Theseus that Ariadne is to be Bacchus' bride. Other versions say Ariadne commits suicide after being abandoned. Some versions state that she stayed with Theseus and died in childbirth, or was successful in bearing two children for the hero.

The first version leads the most easily into further tales. Theseus as he returns to Athens is so upset by his forced separation from Ariadne that he forgets to replace the black sails with white ones. King Aegeus on observing a black sail believes his son is dead and commits suicide, drowning in the sea which became the Aegean in his honour. Aegeus ensures that Theseus becomes King of Athens in tragic circumstances.

As king,

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