Book 1: Chapter 1-4 Summary

"The King Must Die", written by Mary Renault, is a story based on the early life of Theseus. It is told by Theseus as an old man remember his early life as the grandson of a king, his search to find his father, his captivity in Crete, and through his inner strength and leadership his return home.

Theseus recalls the story of his early childhood and the beliefs that he held to as a small child. His house is called Hellene and his grandfather is King Pittheus and Theseus is told from birth that he was begotten by the god Poseidon. His mother is the Chief Priestess of Mother Dia in the city of Troizen. When Theseus is seven years old he is taken to a ceremony where his grandfather, the king, sacrifices a horse that is considered to...