Why does King Aegeus throw himself into the sea?

King Aegeus throws himself into the sea after mistakenly believing that his son, Theseus, has been killed by the Minotaur. He had instructed Theseus to return from Crete with white sails if he was victorious, but when he sees the black sails of the returning ship, he assumes the worst. Overcome with grief and despair, Aegeus leaps from a cliff into the waters, which later become known as the Aegean Sea. This tragic act symbolizes the deep bond between father and son and the devastating impact of miscommunication.