Difference between revisions of "Minotaur" - New World Encyclopedia
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How the myth of the minotaur developed is unclear. It is a Greek myth, involving a different civilization, the Minoans, which is actually quite common in ancient Greek lore. Several other creatures were from far away places, a usually attribute of myths. It is generally believed that the ruins of [[Knossos]] on the island of [[Crete]] is the capital of of the once Minoan empire. Howevere, no labrynith as of yet has been discovered, yet the large palaces are so eleborate that it easy to become confused and lost within them, which may explain part of the labrynith myth. | How the myth of the minotaur developed is unclear. It is a Greek myth, involving a different civilization, the Minoans, which is actually quite common in ancient Greek lore. Several other creatures were from far away places, a usually attribute of myths. It is generally believed that the ruins of [[Knossos]] on the island of [[Crete]] is the capital of of the once Minoan empire. Howevere, no labrynith as of yet has been discovered, yet the large palaces are so eleborate that it easy to become confused and lost within them, which may explain part of the labrynith myth. | ||
| − | + | A historical explanation of the myth refers to the time when Crete was the main political and cultural potency in the Aegean Sea. As the fledgling Athens (and probably other continental Greek cities) was under tribute to Crete, it can be assumed that such tribute included young men and women for sacrifice. This ceremony was performed by a priest disguised with a bull head or mask, thus explaining the imagery of the Minotaur. It may also be that this priest was son to Minos. Once continental Greece was free from Crete's dominance, the myth of the Minotaur worked to distance the forming religious consciousness of the Hellene ''[[Polis|poleis]]'' from Minoan beliefs. | |
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| − | A historical explanation of the myth refers to the time when Crete was the main political and cultural potency in the Aegean Sea. As the fledgling Athens (and probably other continental Greek cities) was under tribute to Crete, it can be assumed that such tribute included young men and women for sacrifice. This ceremony was performed by a priest disguised with a bull head or mask, thus explaining the imagery of the Minotaur. It may also be that this priest was son to Minos. | ||
| − | |||
| − | Once continental Greece was free from Crete's dominance, the myth of the Minotaur worked to distance the forming religious consciousness of the Hellene ''[[Polis|poleis]]'' from Minoan beliefs. | ||
The origin of the minotaur is well accepted in Greek mythology without many variations. Before Minos became king, he asked the Greek god [[Poseidon]] for a sign, to assure him that he, and not his brother, was to receive the throne (other accounts say that he boasted that the gods wanted him to be king). Poseidon agreed to send a white bull as a sign, on condition Minos would sacrifice the bull to the god in return. Indeed, a bull of unmatched beauty came out of the sea. King Minos, after seeing it, found it so beautiful that he instead sacrificed another bull, hoping that Poseidon would not notice. Poseidon was enraged when he realized what had been done, so he caused Minos's wife, [[Pasiphaë]], to fall deeply in love with the bull. | The origin of the minotaur is well accepted in Greek mythology without many variations. Before Minos became king, he asked the Greek god [[Poseidon]] for a sign, to assure him that he, and not his brother, was to receive the throne (other accounts say that he boasted that the gods wanted him to be king). Poseidon agreed to send a white bull as a sign, on condition Minos would sacrifice the bull to the god in return. Indeed, a bull of unmatched beauty came out of the sea. King Minos, after seeing it, found it so beautiful that he instead sacrificed another bull, hoping that Poseidon would not notice. Poseidon was enraged when he realized what had been done, so he caused Minos's wife, [[Pasiphaë]], to fall deeply in love with the bull. | ||
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The result of this union was the Minotaur (the Bull of Minos), who some say bore the proper name [[Asterius]] (the "Starry One"). In some accounts, the white bull went on to become the [[Cretan Bull]] captured by [[Heracles]] as one of his labours.<ref> Hamilyon, Edith (1942( "Mythology" ISBN:0316341142</ref> | The result of this union was the Minotaur (the Bull of Minos), who some say bore the proper name [[Asterius]] (the "Starry One"). In some accounts, the white bull went on to become the [[Cretan Bull]] captured by [[Heracles]] as one of his labours.<ref> Hamilyon, Edith (1942( "Mythology" ISBN:0316341142</ref> | ||
| − | The Minotaur had the body of a man and the head and tail of a bull. | + | The Minotaur had the body of a man and the head and tail of a bull. Pasiphaë nursed him in his infancy, but he grew and became ferocious. Minos, after getting advice from the [[Delphic oracle|Oracle at Delphi]], had Daedalus construct a gigantic [[labyrinth]] to hold the Minotaur. Its location was near Minos' palace in [[Knossos]]. |
==Theseus and the Minotaur== | ==Theseus and the Minotaur== | ||
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Minos, angry that Theseus was able to escape, imprisoned Daedalus and his son [[Icarus (mythology)|Icarus]] in a tall tower. They were able to escape by building wings for themselves with the feathers of birds that flew by, but Icarus died during the escape as he flew too high (in hope of seeing Apollo in his sun chariot) and the wax that held the feathers in the wing melted in the heat of the sun. | Minos, angry that Theseus was able to escape, imprisoned Daedalus and his son [[Icarus (mythology)|Icarus]] in a tall tower. They were able to escape by building wings for themselves with the feathers of birds that flew by, but Icarus died during the escape as he flew too high (in hope of seeing Apollo in his sun chariot) and the wax that held the feathers in the wing melted in the heat of the sun. | ||
| − | == | + | ==Cultural Representations== |
The contest between Theseus and the Minotaur was frequently represented in Greek art. A Knossian [[didrachm]] exhibits on one side the labyrinth, on the other the Minotaur surrounded by a semicircle of small balls, probably intended for stars; it is to be noted that one of the monster's names was [[Asterius]]. | The contest between Theseus and the Minotaur was frequently represented in Greek art. A Knossian [[didrachm]] exhibits on one side the labyrinth, on the other the Minotaur surrounded by a semicircle of small balls, probably intended for stars; it is to be noted that one of the monster's names was [[Asterius]]. | ||
Revision as of 16:25, 10 June 2007
In Greek mythology, the Minotaur was a creature that was part man and part bull, that dwelt at the center of the Labyrinth, which was an elaborate maze-like construction built for King Minos of Crete and designed by the architect Daedalus specifically to hold the Minotaur.
Etymology
"Minotaur" in (Greek: Μινόταυρος, Minótauros) translates as "Bull of Minos."[1] The bull was known in Crete as Asterion, a name shared with Minos's foster father.
Origin
How the myth of the minotaur developed is unclear. It is a Greek myth, involving a different civilization, the Minoans, which is actually quite common in ancient Greek lore. Several other creatures were from far away places, a usually attribute of myths. It is generally believed that the ruins of Knossos on the island of Crete is the capital of of the once Minoan empire. Howevere, no labrynith as of yet has been discovered, yet the large palaces are so eleborate that it easy to become confused and lost within them, which may explain part of the labrynith myth.
A historical explanation of the myth refers to the time when Crete was the main political and cultural potency in the Aegean Sea. As the fledgling Athens (and probably other continental Greek cities) was under tribute to Crete, it can be assumed that such tribute included young men and women for sacrifice. This ceremony was performed by a priest disguised with a bull head or mask, thus explaining the imagery of the Minotaur. It may also be that this priest was son to Minos. Once continental Greece was free from Crete's dominance, the myth of the Minotaur worked to distance the forming religious consciousness of the Hellene poleis from Minoan beliefs.
The origin of the minotaur is well accepted in Greek mythology without many variations. Before Minos became king, he asked the Greek god Poseidon for a sign, to assure him that he, and not his brother, was to receive the throne (other accounts say that he boasted that the gods wanted him to be king). Poseidon agreed to send a white bull as a sign, on condition Minos would sacrifice the bull to the god in return. Indeed, a bull of unmatched beauty came out of the sea. King Minos, after seeing it, found it so beautiful that he instead sacrificed another bull, hoping that Poseidon would not notice. Poseidon was enraged when he realized what had been done, so he caused Minos's wife, Pasiphaë, to fall deeply in love with the bull. Pasiphaë tried to seduce the bull without success, then she requested some help from Daedalus the greatest architect from Creta. Daedalus built a wooden cow, the cow was hollow allowing Pasiphaë to hide inside. The queen came back inside the wooden cow and the bull confused by the perfection of the costume he was conquered. The result of this union was the Minotaur (the Bull of Minos), who some say bore the proper name Asterius (the "Starry One"). In some accounts, the white bull went on to become the Cretan Bull captured by Heracles as one of his labours.[2]
The Minotaur had the body of a man and the head and tail of a bull. Pasiphaë nursed him in his infancy, but he grew and became ferocious. Minos, after getting advice from the Oracle at Delphi, had Daedalus construct a gigantic labyrinth to hold the Minotaur. Its location was near Minos' palace in Knossos.
Theseus and the Minotaur
During his reign as king, Minos required that seven Athenian youths and seven maidens, drawn by lots, be sent every ninth year (some accounts say every year) to be devoured by the Minotaur. The exact reasoning for this sacrifice is not agreed upon. Some say it was Athenian payment for the death of Minos' son in a war, whiles others believe that Minos had convinced the Athenians that the sacrifice was necessary in order to thwart a mysterious plague that was ravaging Athens. In either case, it is clear that the Athenians were not happy with the araingment and were compelled to continue sending sacrifices to Crete.
When the third sacrifice came round, Theseus volunteered to go to slay the monster. He promised to his father, Aegeus, that he would put up a white sail on his journey back home if he was successful. Ariadne, the daughter of Minos, fell in love with Theseus and compelled Daedalus to help Theseus escape the labyrnith. In most accounts he is gives a ball of thread, allowing him to retrace his path after he killed the minotaur, which he did by sneaking upon the creature while it slept and beat it to death with his fist. Theseus was also able to lead the other six Athenians safely from the labrynith.
Theseus took Ariadne with him from Crete, but abandoned her enroute to Athens (Generally this is said to happen on the island of Naxos). According to Homer, she was killed by Artemis upon the testimony of Dionysus. However, later sources report that Theseus abandoned her as she slept on the island of Naxos, and there became the bride of Dionysus. The epiphany of Dionysus to the sleeping Ariadne became a common theme in Greek and Roman art, and in some of these images Theseus is shown running away.
On his return trip, Theseus forgot to change the black sails of mourning for white sails of success, so his father, overcome with grief, leapt off the clifftop from which he had kept watch for his son's return every day since Theseus had departed into the sea. The name of the "Aegean" sea is said to derive from this event. Minos, angry that Theseus was able to escape, imprisoned Daedalus and his son Icarus in a tall tower. They were able to escape by building wings for themselves with the feathers of birds that flew by, but Icarus died during the escape as he flew too high (in hope of seeing Apollo in his sun chariot) and the wax that held the feathers in the wing melted in the heat of the sun.
Cultural Representations
The contest between Theseus and the Minotaur was frequently represented in Greek art. A Knossian didrachm exhibits on one side the labyrinth, on the other the Minotaur surrounded by a semicircle of small balls, probably intended for stars; it is to be noted that one of the monster's names was Asterius.
Notes
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Minotaur in Greek Myth source Greek texts and art
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