O Minotaur or "bull of Minos” is a creature from Greek mythology with the body of a man, the head and tail of a bull who inhabited the labyrinth of the king of Crete, Minos.
Legend has it that this labyrinth was built by Daedalus, a Greek architect, in order to protect the population from this fierce creature.
Minotaur Legend
Considered a frightening mythological figure, legend has it that the Minotaur, son of the King of Minos, was born on the island of Crete.
He was born from the union between his mother, Pasiphae and a white bull, who according to Poseidon, king of the seas, his father was supposed to kill him the moment he arrived.
The King of Minos, certain that Poseidon would not notice the difference between the bulls, ended up sacrificing another animal. This is because the moment he observed the white bull, the king decided not to kill him because he was amazed and delighted with its beauty.
It is worth remembering that this episode comes when Minos, wishing to be the King of Crete, makes a request to the King of the Seas, Poseidon. He accepts the request, but on the condition that he sacrifice the bull that would come out of the sea.
However, Poseidon, unhappy with the act of treachery by the King of Minos, decides to curse him. In such a way, his wife falls in love with the white bull, who refused to sacrifice him.
Thus, Pasiphae falls in love with the bull and with him is born a bizarre and fierce creature: the Minotaur.
For that, the King of Minos, worried about the consequences that this creature would bring to his people and his city, decides to build a labyrinth.
The labyrinth was built in the city of Knossos, Greece, in the basement of the Palace of Minos, which, however, was built by the architect and inventor Daedalus.
Therefore, Minos defeats Athena, goddess of arts and wisdom, killing one of her children. From that, as revenge, the Goddess decides to send 7 Athenian women and 7 men to the Minotaur's labyrinth every year in order to kill the creature.
During 3 years many Athenian men and women were sacrificed. Some were devoured by the Minotaur or lost in its labyrinth.
Thus, theseus, considered one of the greatest Greek heroes, son of King Aegean, decides to go to Crete and face the Minotaur.
However, when he arrives, he falls in love with Ariadne, daughter of the King of Minos, who gives him a ball of yarn and a magic sword in order to face the creature.
Theseu faces Minotauro and ends up winning the fight. So he manages to get out of the labyrinth due to the wool thread given by his beloved and left along the way to mark the exit.
Statue of Theseus fighting the Minotaur
This episode not only made Theseus one of the most important heroes of Greece, it also strengthened the ties between the two Greek cities: Crete and Athens.
Learn more about the topic by reading the article:
- Greek gods
- Greek mythology
- centaurs
