Plot

Theseus is standing outside the entrance to the Labyrinth, readying himself for his struggle against the mythical Minotaur. He reflects on how he escaped from the stratagems of the Minoans, who attempted to divert him from his goal. Ariadne sends him a message in which she declares her love for him and seeks a tryst at midnight, which he rejects in his reply.

Undaunted, the maiden goes to find him, in the belief that his refusal is some form of love game. However much Theseus insultingly declares that he is indifferent to her, she insists and promises to assist him in conquering Crete, after which she will follow him to Athens.

Furthermore, she admits that Minos has sent her to seduce him. Minos is not long in arriving; his stance revelas that he is resigned to the notion of final destruction. He is friendly towards Theseus, offers him advice over his meeting with the Minotaur and gives him his blessing as Ariadne leads him into the Labyrinth. The earth is soon quaking from the struggle. Shortly afterwards, Theseus emerges with Ariadne and gives the signal for departure.

The princess believes that Theseus has won, but he speaks enigmatically of his experience. He once more rebuffs her offers and tells her that it is time for them to separate. Minos returns, this time devoid of any tokens of royal power. He seeks news of what has happened; Ariadne describes the previous scenes, telling him that when in the end she tried to remove Theseus, she saw two tall, blond young men gazing at the sea in silence.

Minos calls Theseus "prince of Crete" and asks him to take Ariadne with him, though this request is likewise rejected. Ariadne urges her father to kill Theseus, but when Minos calls the guards, the entrance to the Labyrinth falls in and the Minotaur emerges in the form of a Kouros. Minos recognises him as the Redeemer who has been redeemed of bull-like form, bids farewell to his daughter and dies. Theseus leaves together with the Kouros.

Writing history

The first draft of the tragedy was written in Antibes in 1949. Kazantzakis translated it into French in December of the same year, and reworked it in 1951.

Greek editions

  • N. Kazantzakis, Kouros, Nea Estia, vol. 58, issues 681-682 (15.11 - 1.12.1955) 1508-1521 and 1588-1612
  • N. Kazantzakis, Tragodies I. Tragodies me archea themata. Promitheas, Kouros, Odisseas, Melissa, edited by E. C. Kasdaglis, Athens: Difros 1955
  • N. Kazantzakis, Tragodies I. Tragodies me archea themata. Promitheas, Kouros, Odisseas, Melissa, Athens: Eleni Kazantzakis 1964 - and subsequent editions; the one published in 1998, edited by Patroklos Stavrou, is a reprint of the 1955 edition
  • Apo to piitiko ergo tou N. Kazantzaki, with a prologue by Manolis Karellis. Introduction, selection and notes by Stylianos Alexiou, illustrations by N. Chatzikyriakos-Gikas, Heraklion, Crete: Municipality of Crete 1977 - an anthology of excerpts.

Foreign editions & translations

  • Nikos Kazantzakis, Tragédies grecques. Melissa, Thésée, translated into French by Charles Guillemenau, Monaco: du Rochers 1953 (translations by Kazantzakis, revised by Guillemenau) - the first edition of Theseus
  • Nikos Kazantzakis, Teseo. Τragedia, translated into Spanish by Luisa Rivaud and Raquel Warschaver, Buenos Aires: Losange 1958
  • Nikos Kazantzakis, Three Plays. Christopher Columbus, Melissa, Kouros, translated into English by Athena Giannakas-Dallas, New York: Simon and Schuster 1969
  • Nikos Kazantzakis, Théâtre. Melissa, Kouros, Christoph Colomb, translated into French by Liliane Princet - Nikos Athanassiou, Paris: Plon 1974
  • Nikos Kazantzakis, Kouros, translated into Farsi, Iran: Agah (undated).

Performances & adaptations

  • Spencer Stage Company, New York 1971. Directed by Vassily Lambrinos. Cast: Eve Dmytryk, Hampton Dickens, Raymond Christian.
  • Cretan Theatre Company, Heraklion (also on tour around Crete), 1977. Directed by Michalis Bouchlis, costumes and stage design by Yiorgos Anemoyiannis, music by Yiannis Markopoulos. Cast: Lycourgos Kallergis, Nikos Galanos, Eleni Anoussaki
  • "Proskinio" Troupe, Athens Festival 1984. Directed by Alexis Solomos. Cast: Christos Parlas, Nikos Tzoyias, Vera Krouska, Dimitris Tsoutsis.

Radio

  • Broadcast by the Stockholm radio, 1950. Translated by Börje Knös
  • Kouros, broadcast by Radio Suisse Romande, 1977 (Nikos Kazantzakis Museum Archive)
  • Kouros, broadcast by the Cyprus Radio Foundation (RIK) (Nikos Kazantzakis Museum Archive)
  • Kouros, Greek Radio and Television (ERT). Directed by Nikos Gatsos (Nikos Kazantzakis Museum Archive)

Music

  • Yiannis Markopoulos, Kouros, 1977