- He offers himself as a tribute to the Minotaur. Minos had demanded that the Athenians send seven young men and seven young women to Crete every nine years to be devoured by the Minotaur, a half-man, half-bull creature. Theseus volunteered to be one of the tributes in order to slay the Minotaur and free Athens from this terrible fate.
- He navigates the labyrinth and slays the Minotaur. With the help of Ariadne, the daughter of Minos, Theseus was able to navigate the labyrinth, a complex maze where the Minotaur was kept, and slay the beast. This victory not only freed Athens from the tribute, but also allowed Theseus to return to Athens as a hero.