He is the subject of a play by Euripides. His ninth labor is to obtain the girdle of the Amazon queen, Hippolyta. This task is sometimes considered to be a symbol of sexual conquest. These famous tales of the Amazons are all rendered in artistic interpretation which lend meaning to the contexts of their narrations. Classical Greece Examining the times in which most of the narratives focused on were written elucidates more about their meanings and symbolism.
Historical interpretation reveals content far richer than just the storylines.
All of Athens could come together then, under this creation story, with a common ancestry. Furthermore, Theseus was known as the metaphorical spawn of Poseidon. With these geneaologies, his role as the founder of Athens was set. Furthermore, since he could credit Heracles as his cousin, the progression of the myths is obvious. First, he could easily be seen as accompanying his relative on the famed adventures, later he was competing with his cousin's accomplishments and fulfilling his family name until finally he stood alone in his achievements.