The Bull from the Sea

infobox Book |
name = The Bull from the Sea
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = Cover of the 2001 edition
author = Mary Renault
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = United Kingdom
language = English
series =
genre = Historical novel
publisher = Vintage
release_date = 1962
english_release_date =
media_type = Print (Hardback & Paperback)
pages = 352 p. (Vintage paperback edition)
isbn = ISBN 0-375-72680-2 (Vintage paperback edition)
preceded_by = The King Must Die
followed_by =

"The Bull from the Sea" is the sequel to Mary Renault's "The King Must Die". It continues the story of the mythological hero Theseus after his return from Crete.

Plot introduction

The story is a retelling of the life of mythological hero Theseus after his return from the Minoan palace of Knossos. The novel follows his later quests, his friendship with Pirithoos, and his liaison with Hippolyta and marriage to Phaedra.

Plot summary

Theseus returns to Athens along with the other Athenian bull-leapers. His father, Aigeus, has committed suicide, which leaves the kingdom to the young Theseus. He soon meets Pirithoos, the rebellious pirate king of the Lapiths, and the two go on several adventures. Pirithoos talks Theseus out of going to Crete to meet his bride-to-be, Phaedra, and instead the two journey to Euxine, home of the Amazons. There, Theseus falls in love with Hippolyta the leader of the Amazons, and after defeating her in single combat, takes her home to Athens with him.

Hippolyta bears Theseus a son, Hippolytus, and continues to fight and hunt alongside him. Theseus, feeling pressure from his advisors, agrees to marry the Cretan princess Phaedra. She bears him a son, Akamas, but continues living in Crete; in Athens, Hippolyta is queen in all but name, and Phaedra remains jealous of her. When the Scythians attack Athens, Hippolyta helps defend the Acropolis and is killed in battle.

Years pass. Phaedra comes to Greece, where she meets the now-grown Hippolytus and conceives an unrequited passion for him. After being unable to secure his affection, she convinces Theseus that he attempted to rape her. Theseus curses Hippolytus, but quickly realizes that his wife is the real culprit. His realization comes too late: Hippolytus, fleeing his father's wrath, crashes his chariot and is killed. Theseus kills his wife (making it look like suicide) and spends the rest of his days alone.

ee also

*Fiction set in Ancient Greece