AEgeus

AEgeus, a legendary king of Athens, son of Pandion, and father of Theseus. In his days, Minos of Crete imposed on the Athenians a yearly tribute of seven youths and seven maidens as food for the Minotaur. Theseus, being one of the sacrificial batch, determined to rid the world of the monster, and agreed with his father to hoist white instead of black sails on the returning vessel if he was successful. This he forgot to do, and AEgeus seeing a black sail on the horizon threw himself into the sea, which henceforth bore his name.