Crete island legend of the minotaur. The legend of the palace of Knossos and the minotaur's labyrinth
Crete can truly be considered a fabulous island. It is with him that many ancient Greek legends and myths are associated. Having visited it, you should definitely see the local sights. The most popular of these is the Minotaur labyrinth in Crete. Despite the fact that the story of the Minotaur is more legend than true, this place is very interesting. Here you can see numerous corridors and fully immerse yourself in the Greek legend.
From history - the legend of the Minotaur
The legend begins with the king who once ruled the island of Crete, Minos. In honor of the god Poseidon, he had to sacrifice the sacred animal of the bull. However, he did not want to do this and kept the bull for himself. Poseidon, in turn, was so angry that he bewitched Minos's wife. Under the spell, she committed adultery with this bull and gave birth to a half-bull. It had the shape of a man and a bull, and was named the Minotaur.
The Minotaur was terrible and ferocious, so King Minos instructed the architect Daedalus to build a large labyrinth from which it was impossible to get out. The minotaur was placed there and guarded the maze. To feed him every year 14 girls and boys were supplied to him. They were delivered from Athens, as they were guilty before the king of Crete. Athens did not want war, so they obeyed and every year they sent a ship with black sails.
Once Theseus, the son of the king of Athens, found out about it. He went to Crete with the doomed youths in order to kill the Minotaur. He promised his father that if he succeeds in doing this, white sails will be installed on the ship upon his return. Theseus helped in this matter the daughter of Minos Ariadne. She fell in love with the Greek hero and gave him a ball of thread before he set off for the Minotaur's labyrinth. Theseus defeated the fierce animal, and with the help of the threads he was able to find his way back. He took Ariadne with him, and together they went to Athens. However, Theseus forgot to change the black sails to white ones and his father, seeing a ship from a distance, threw himself from a cliff into the sea. This legendary story with a sad ending is remembered in Crete to this day. This is what attracts many travelers and tourists.
Description of the attraction
The Labyrinth of the Minotaur is actually known as the Palace of Knossos. It has an impressive size and is of great interest. To this day, the building has not survived in its original form, but was a ruined building. The palace gained its wide popularity after it was partially reconstructed and given the appearance of Minoan architecture. At the same time, even the most small parts... Now tourists can see what palaces were at that time and walk through its destroyed territory. It is said that it was here that Daedalus built the famous labyrinth.
The palace of Knossos consisted of a large number of premises. They were connected to each other using complex transitions. Thus, the layout is very confusing and maze-like. Even today, a sign depicting a labyrinth can be seen on the destroyed walls. All rooms of the palace are decorated with interesting frescoes and paintings from that time.
There are many versions as to whether the labyrinth is located in the palace itself and its surroundings, or it was built in some other place. Despite this, the territory of the Knossos Palace is very large. The buildings here are not symmetrical and thus very interesting. Going to Crete, you must see this famous place, which is legendary. Locals and the guides can tell a lot of legends connected with the appearance of the palace and the labyrinth of the Minotaur itself.
Self visit
Labyrinth of the Minotaur (Palace of Knossos) on the map:
Getting to the Palace of Knossos will not be difficult, because it is located in the suburb of the capital of Crete, the city of Heraklion. Regular buses run towards the palace, the schedule of which you can check at the reception of your hotel.
Working hours: from June to October from 8 am to 7 pm (on weekends and holidays until 3 pm);
from November to May, the palace is open from 8 am to 3 pm.
Entrance fee: 6 euros, but it is possible to enter for free. Admission to the palace is free on national holidays and every Sunday from November to March.
Stores many exciting stories, instructive legends and touching stories. There was a place in it for terrible monsters, and beautiful youths, and mysterious nymphs. One of the brightest and most famous characters is the Minotaur.
Of course, most of us are familiar with this monster. But do you know so well the history of its appearance? Or maybe it did not exist at all?
Who is the Minotaur
Appearance The Minotaur is really terrible: a bloodthirsty monster with a human body and a bull's head.
His diet consisted of people, and not green grass, like ordinary cloven-hoofed animals.
The place of residence of the Minotaur was a labyrinth, created to hide the monster from human eyes. But where did such a terrible creature come from?
The appearance of the Minotaur
In most cases, the appearance of an unusual creature is associated with the history of the ancient Gods. The bull-headed man was no exception.
At that time, Asterion was the king of the island of Crete. His wife, Europe, had 3 sons from a previous union with Zeus. Their names were Minos, Sapedon and Radamant.
After some time, Asterion departed to another world, but did not have time to bequeath his throne. Of course, a struggle began between the brothers. The victor was to take the throne.
Minos, who had the advantage in the fateful struggle, called on all the gods for help, promising to bring them a generous sacrifice.
One day Poseidon sent a magnificent bull to Minos that came out of the sea. It was him that he had to sacrifice, fulfilling his promise. There was no doubt that it was Minos who would win, taking the throne of the king of Crete. Therefore, Sapedon and Radamant were expelled from the island.
But, as it turned out, hastily. Minos did not keep his oath. Poseidon's bull seemed too handsome to him, and the self-confident young man decided to deceive. He changed the donated bull for the most ordinary one, and sacrificed it.
However, everyone knows that the gods cannot be fooled. Poseidon, having learned about everything, flew into a rage, and decided to punish the deceiver.
Kara of Poseidon
The cruelty of the punishment was in the spirit of the ancient Greek gods.
The lord of the seas instilled in Minos' wife - Pasiphae - an unnatural, sinful love for a bull.
Pasiphae and the cow built by Daedalus
Pasiphae went crazy with overwhelming passion, but she could not find a way to reunite with the desired bull. Daedalus and Icarus became her assistants in this matter.
They built a cow-shaped wooden frame with real hide.
Climbing inside, Pasiphae seduced the divine bull, and after the due date gave birth to a child.
The boy named Asterius was completely unusual. With age, his head turned into a bull, horns and a tail grew.
The terrible monster that appeared as a result of a vicious relationship was bloodthirsty: ordinary food did not give him pleasure, he needed human blood and meat.
Legendary maze
To everyone's surprise, Minos did not condemn his wife, because it was he who was to blame for what happened. But he was not going to put up with the monster either.
Daedalus and Icarus, newly called to help, built the most complex Knossos labyrinth, where the bull-man, named the Minotaur, was later imprisoned.
Knowing about his bloodlust, Minos sent people to the labyrinth for food. As a rule, these were criminals sentenced to death.
But the king of Crete also had a son, Androgea. However, the young man did not have a long and happy life, he was killed by the Athenians.
Wanting to avenge the death of the heir, Minos demanded an annual payment from the Athenians: seven girls and seven youths, who went to the labyrinth to be devoured by the Minotaur.
A daredevil named Theseus
Several times Athenian boys and girls disappeared without a trace in the labyrinth with a terrible monster. And only Theseus, who arrived in the next party, was able to defeat the Minotaur. But how did he do it?
Ariadne, half-sister of the bull man, fell in love with Theseus. She understood that if she did not do anything to save the young handsome man, he would be doomed to death.
A way of salvation was found. Before Theseus went into the labyrinth, Ariadne presented him with a ball of threads.
The smart guy figured out to tie one end near the entrance. Moreover, the ball was magical: when it touched the ground, it rolled by itself, and Theseus followed him like an experienced guide.
The ball led him to the Minotaur's lair, where he slept peacefully.
How exactly Theseus defeated the monster, no one knows. But there are several versions of what happened.
- The first source claims that Theseus killed the Minotaur with a blow of his fist.
- Others are convinced that he used the sword of his father, Aegeus.
- And still others believe that the Minotaur was strangled.
Be that as it may, the monster was defeated. And the magic ball of resourceful Ariadne helped Theseus and the surviving prisoners to get out of the labyrinth.
Unfortunately, myths involving gods rarely end with a happy ending.
Theseus in love, realizing that he could not live without Ariadne, kidnapped her and went to his homeland.
On the way, the girl drowned. Most likely, Poseidon contributed to this, as revenge for the slain Minotaur.
Saddened Theseus fell into mourning, forgetting about everything. This is what caused other tragic events.
After the victory, the flag on the ship had to be changed to white so that Theseus' people could see the approaching hero.
However, the death of Ariadne did not allow him to do this. Noticing the black flag of the sailing ship, which was a symbol of bad news, King Aegeus interpreted it as news of the death of his son, Theseus. Unable to bear the loss, Aegeus threw himself into the sea, which was later named after him.
A rationalistic version of the legend
Some ancient historians who studied myths described one non-standard, but very interesting version.
In their writings, the Minotaur, like a monster with a bull's head, is just an allegory. In fact, he was a man named Taurus.
Taurus was the teacher of Minos when he was very young.
Legends say that Taurus was an extremely cruel man, and therefore Minos decided to establish a competition, during which his teacher would fight the sent Athenian youths.
Athens at that time was really under the rule of Crete, and was obliged to pay tribute by people. Having defeated 9 Athenians, Taurus met with Theseus, who was able to win.
The image of the Minotaur in culture
Ancient Greek myths often form the basis of literary works, and their colorful characters are a source of inspiration for many authors. The Minotaur was no exception.
Knossos palace-labyrinth of King Minos Greece 1700 BC
In the literature, the image of a bull-man can be found:
- Divine Comedy, Dante Alighieri
- House of Asteria, Jorge Luis Borges
- Theseus, Mary Reno
- Minotaur's Labyrinth by Robert Sheckley
- Minotaur by Friedrich Dürrenmatt
- Helm of Terror. Kreatiff about Theseus and the Minotaur ", Victor Pelevin
Of course, the authenticity of the legend of the Minotaur and Theseus has not been confirmed.
It can be treated as a fairy tale, and as an allegorical story, and as a cautionary tale.
However, the Minotaur's palace has survived, albeit in a dilapidated state, despite its venerable age, equal to 4 thousand years.
The main characters were depicted on canvases of paintings, on the surfaces of vases, in the form of sculptures. Theseus and Ariadne, lovers and brave, will forever remain in the memory of people, as the saviors of humanity from a terrible monster with the head of a bull and the body of a man.
Most of our contemporaries are, to one degree or another, familiar with ancient Greek myths. In one case, history textbooks are used as sources. high school or a higher educational institution, in another - the study of folklore of the distant past is a component of self-education. There is a large category of people for whom the study of mythology brings spiritual satisfaction. Many people know the myth of the Minotaur, who lived far in the ocean.
Minotaur on Crete
One of the most spectacular is the Minotaur with a specific body structure - the head of a bull, and everything else - the body, arms and legs - human. In other words, it's kind of a terrible hybrid.
The monster of Crete was lucky to live not just anywhere, but in the Palace, which in general was so complex underground labyrinth that any person who got there was doomed to get lost and disappear there forever. The Minotaur spent most of the time in the center of the eerie room. The myth of the Minotaur was passed from mouth to mouth. Briefly people talked about what a cruel creature it is.
The mention of the Minotaur aroused fear among most Athenians. Residents were forced to regularly every 9 years to choose 7 representatives of both sexes of young age and send them to the palace with labyrinths. In this way, it was possible to appease the monster. Why exactly seven? This number from time immemorial for many peoples belonged to the category of magic. Apparently, the Minotaur was of the same opinion.
But one day theseus turned out to be among the "chosen ones", who was the son of King Aegeus, who ruled in Athens. With the appearance of this man, the myth of the Minotaur received a special ending.
Who is Theseus?
From an early age, the boy was surrounded by the warmth of his mother Ephra, who at that time was Princess Tesera. The father did not raise his son due to the fact that he was far from the family hearth. Before parting with his wife, Aegeus hid sandals and a sword under a heavy stone, which the matured Theseus had to take away. Aegea's will was fulfilled by her sixteen-year-old son. Wanting to see his father, Theseus went to Athens, accomplishing many feats along the way.
Even at school, everyone is studying the famous myth of the Minotaur. Summary you can read below.
How did Theseus dealt with the Minotaur?
So, Theseus, who was to go to the Minotaur, was determined to put an end to the monstrous tradition of sacrifice, the need for people to live in constant fear once and for all.
One circumstance contributed to the mission's success. The king of Crete had a daughter, Ariadne. Very strong feelings developed between her and Theseus. Ariadne gave her lover a magic guiding thread so that he could navigate the maze. Thanks to such a gift, the myth of the Minotaur ended well.
Theseus did everything as Ariadne taught him: he tied the end of the magic thread to the front door and dropped a ball on the floor. Following him through an intricate maze, a brave warrior found the Minotaur sleeping in a den. Seizing the opportunity, he strangled the monster with his bare hands. From the labyrinth Theseus brought out the same thread, which he reeled all the way into a ball.
One can only imagine the joy and relief of people who learned that the Minotaur is no longer there. The winner, apparently, felt that he could not live without his beloved. Therefore, leaving the island, he kidnapped Ariadne. Fate decreed in its own way, on the way the deep sea took the girl. Probably, this did not happen without the participation of Poseidon. If it were not for the intrigues of the gods, then the myth of the Minotaur would have ended positively for two lovers. The summary allows you to understand how the fate of the heroes developed.
Theseus was so saddened that he even forgot to change the flag on the ship - a conventional sign announcing victory. King Aegeus regarded the black flag on the approaching ship as the death of his son in a duel with the Cretan monster and threw himself into the depths of the sea. In memory of the tragically killed in which the king of Athens drowned, they called it Aegean.
After Theseus strangled the monster with the head of a bull, none of the mortals dared to enter the labyrinth. And so the famous myth of the Minotaur ended.
A myth immortalized in the art and memory of the people
The authenticity of the story described above can, of course, be questioned. The palace in which the Minotaur lived, although in a dilapidated form, was preserved. And this despite the historical period, equal to almost four thousand years! The number of those wishing to visit Crete and get acquainted with the ancient mythical sights is not decreasing.
Images of the main characters of the myth of the Minotaur are present on the canvases of paintings, vases are painted with them, they are presented in the form of sculptures. The impressive value of these masterpieces of art does not hinder the demand for them. The memory of Theseus and Ariadne, thanks to whom mankind got rid of the evil monster, will live in the hearts of people for a very long time. Now you know what events are described in the myth of the Minotaur.
The address: Greece, Crete island, near Heraklion
Build date: 1700 BC e.
Coordinates: 35 ° 17 "52.7" N 25 ° 09 "46.5" E
Short description
Not far from modern city Heraklion, stretching out on the legendary island of Crete, contains the ruins of the most famous and popular among tourists monument of ancient Greek architecture, the Palace of Knossos.
Despite the inexorable passage of time, numerous earthquakes, robberies and wars, through the efforts of archaeologists, the ruins of a giant building appeared, which is often mentioned in myths and legends. Excavations of the Knossos Palace and restoration work began at the dawn of the twentieth century, led by the most famous archaeologist at that time, Arthur Evans.
It is thanks to this person that modern travelers can see the place where, with the help of the thread of Ariadne, the great Greek hero and ruler of Athens Theseus, was able to defeat the Minotaur and not get lost in a huge labyrinth.
Palace of Knossos - history
According to historians, a huge temple in the city of Knossos was erected two thousand years before the advent of our era. Archaeological excavations show that in its place previously existed a settlement of ancient people. By the way, the temple, built thanks to great efforts, existed for only about three hundred years.
The cause of its destruction was the strongest earthquake, which, in addition to the "early" Palace of Knossos, wiped out almost all buildings from the island. Immediately after the natural cataclysm, the ancient Greeks resumed their work and built a new, just the same gigantic palace, the ruins of which were discovered by Arthur Evans at the beginning of the twentieth century.
The construction of the new palace fell on the heyday of the city of Knossos and the Minoan civilization. The Minoan civilization is perhaps one of the most mysterious and least studied. Even in our time, scientists cannot reliably say what the word "minos" itself means. Some say that this is the "royal throne" and "power" in Crete, while others say that this is the name of the man who ruled the city of Knossos during its heyday, and who built the Palace of Knossos. Alas, the city of Knossos and its luxurious palace were again destroyed by another earthquake, which most likely caused a tsunami that covered all of Crete. A detailed study of the ruins of the Palace of Knossos made it possible to conclude that the main reason the death of the city was a fire that spread to all buildings. Interestingly, the cause of the fire is unknown.
A more likely version is that the inhabitants of Knossos themselves burned native city or knew of an impending disaster. This version, which is found in modern history textbooks, is supported by the fact that during excavations on the territory of ancient Knossos, no skeletons of people and domestic animals were found. The townspeople probably knew about the fire and moved to the coast in advance. Some historians, relying on the artifacts found in Palestine, similar in shape to the artifacts found in Crete, make a rather bold statement: the first inhabitants to inhabited Knossos were Atlanteans. This version is rather controversial, although the very construction of a huge palace, whose age is about the same as that of the Egyptian pyramids, speaks in favor of it. Most likely, this mystery of history will not be solved in the near future, only with the advent of new technologies that allow for a more detailed study of the depths of the sea and what is hidden under centuries-old layers, historians will finally give affirmative answers to the questions: "Did Atlantis exist?" and "Where did the ancient Atlanteans live?"
The palace of Knossos in ancient Greek mythology
The Palace of Knossos is inextricably linked with one of the most popular ancient Greek myths, which tells the story of a giant bloodthirsty bull-man - the Minotaur. This monster, which once every nine years devoured seven beautiful girls and boys, lived in a huge labyrinth. In fairness, it should be noted that this myth appeared when the ruins of the Palace of Knossos had already been buried under a layer of earth. Theseus, who ruled Athens, was able to kill the Minotaur in a fierce battle, and since then the inhabitants of the nearby islands and cities stopped sending their young inhabitants to Crete.
The famous thread of Ariadne helped Theseus find the way out of the labyrinth, which supposedly was near the palace of Knossos (or directly under it). From what sources the ancient Greeks, who passed on from generation to generation the myth of Theseus, the Minotaur and Ariadne, knew about the existence of the Palace of Knossos and the Minoan civilization, still remains a mystery. Before excavations, Arthur Evans relied solely on the reliability of this myth and, as time has shown, he was absolutely right, or maybe there is some truth in the myth of the monster ...
The Queen's Hall
Palace of Knossos - the greatest architectural monument
It is safe to say that the Palace of Knossos, near which many groups of archaeologists can still be found today, is one of the most interesting sights of modern Greece. Tourists wandering among the ruins often have the feeling that they are faced with something fantastic and inexplicable. Perhaps it appears after reading the myth of the Minotaur, or perhaps the very atmosphere, which is characteristic of mysterious Crete, introduces a person into a state somewhat similar to meditation. Crete and the ruins of the Palace of Knossos are frequently mentioned in tourist brochures. It is an unforgivable mistake not to visit this building, which was once one of the most magnificent and, according to the assumptions of enthusiasts, was the palace of the Atlanteans.
Today, the palace is a huge number of buildings that are located near the courtyard. Of particular interest is the fact that they were all designed by ancient architects at different levels. Each level was connected by an impressive staircase or corridor. Some rooms are located deep underground, it is not possible to explain the meaning of such a construction and the purpose of the building. Why not the legendary labyrinth of Daedalus? Columns were used as supports for the floors of the palace. Archaeologists claim that The palace of Knossos was the home of the ancient king, his wife and retinue... In addition, a theater was located in the Knossos Palace, in which about six hundred people could watch the battle of two angry bulls (!).
Throne room
Surprisingly, among the ruins, experts have found, perhaps, the oldest sewage system on our planet, as well as a water supply system. Due to the fact that for a long time the Palace of Knossos was buried underground and was inaccessible to robbers, it has preserved unique frescoes depicting mythical creatures. Among the ruins, priceless exhibits made of gold and expensive stones were excavated from the ground. It is also interesting that almost all artifacts found on the territory of ancient Knossos depict a bull. By the way, another image that is quite often found on the walls of a building, shards and vessels is a double ax. In Greek, this weapon sounds like "Labrys". Most linguists believe that it is from this name that the word "labyrinth" originated. Is this another confirmation of the veracity of the myth of the Minotaur?
Frescoes of the palace
Despite numerous discoveries, scientists have still not been able to explain which religion was the main one in the ancient and once influential city, and the Palace of Knossos is a kind of labyrinth, one might even say a rebus that cannot be solved even in our age of technological progress. ...
A traveler who decides to see the Palace of Knossos with his own eyes - a place with which so many legends, myths and secrets are associated, should know that the entrance to its territory is paid. The entrance ticket price by the standards of the European Union is symbolic and amounts to only 6 euros. There is a palace-museum under open air from 8 am to 6 pm daily. On the days that are recognized as national holidays in Greece, you can get to the Palace of Knossos absolutely free of charge.
Palace of Knossos on the map
The Minotaur is a monster from Crete, Theseus' main adversary. Described as a man with a bull's head, he lived in a tangled labyrinth. Killed by Theseus.
In the article:
Legend of the origin of the Minotaur
Greek legends described him as a monster of great stature, with the body of an athlete and a bull's head. His mother was Pasiphae (not to be confused with Pasithea), the daughter of the sun god Helios and the queen of Crete, the wife of Minos. Minos ascended the throne only after defeating his brother with the blessing of the gods. In order for Minos to confirm his noble intentions and become a pious king, Poseidon sent him a magnificent bull and ordered to sacrifice the animal.
Minos felt sorry for killing such a wonderful creature, and he let the bull go to graze with the herd, and instead he killed another, ordinary one. Poseidon became angry and instilled in Pasiphae an unnatural attraction to the bull. According to some sources, Poseidon himself (in a number of myths - Zeus) turned into a bull in order to copulate with the queen. For this, the Athenian engineer Daedalus came up with an ingenious design in the form of a bronze cow attractive to a bull. From the inside, it was hollow, and it contained Pasiphae.
After the due date, the queen gave birth to a monster. Minotaur, by order of Minos, was hidden in the labyrinth of Daedalus - Knossos. Criminals and Athenian boys and girls served as food for the Minotaur - they were brought in once every nine years, seven males and seven females. In some myths, seven children were sacrificed to the Minotaur.
Pausanias wrote that the real name of the Minotaur was Asteria, that is, "star". Antique vases with images of this beast almost always contain images of stars or eyes. The Mycenaean texts also contain references to a certain mistress of the labyrinth, which, probably, could be Ariadne.
Minotaur and Theseus
Diodorus writes that Theseus sailed in the second party, and Plutarch claimed that in the third. But it is known for sure that the hero was among the victims of the Minotaur after he had killed him. According to some sources, to reduce the resistance of the captives, they were deprived of their sight. According to others, it was impossible to leave the tangled labyrinth, and those who escaped death at the hands of the Minotaur simply died without water and food.
Theseus was among the fourteen victims. Together with the others, he was launched into a labyrinth, where he fought the Minotaur and killed him with his bare hands. Sometimes it is indicated that the hero had a sword with him.
Ariadne (half-sister of the Minotaur, but daughter of Minos) gave him a ball of thread, which Theseus unwound all the way. As a result, he and the rest of the captives left the labyrinth unharmed. The throne in Amikles contains an image of a captive Minotaur, which Theseus was leading on a rope.
A rationalistic version of the legend of the Minotaur
Philochorus and after it Eusebius in their writings, they described a different version of the origin of the Minotaur, in which the bull-headed monster acts as an allegory. According to legend, the Minotaur was a man, his name was Taurus. He taught the young king of Crete - Minos, and became famous for his cruelty. At that time, Athens was under the rule of Crete and paid tribute by people. Minos decided to institute a contest in which his teacher fought the sent Athenian youths. Taurus defeated nine, but Theseus, the son of the Athenian king, defeated him. In honor of the victory, Athens was exempted from paying tribute.
The labyrinth at Knossos and the myth of the Minotaur
Also the Labyrinth of Daedalus, according to Plutarch, was the most ordinary prison. Simple prisoners were housed within its walls, and in very tolerable conditions. Minos held competitions annually in honor of Androgeus, his son, who was killed by the Athenians. The winner received young men and women sent from Athens as slaves. Before that, they were kept in the Labyrinth. Taurus enjoyed the great confidence of Minos and was the first winner of the competition. Taurus was known as a rude and cruel master, merciless with slaves. « State structure Bottia "Aristotle clearly expresses the author's idea that it was simply unprofitable to kill the sent people - young people were highly valued in the slave market. They, most likely, remained slaves in Crete until the end of their days.
Historian Demon believed that Taurus was a commander, whose fleet entered into battle with Theseus' fleet in the harbor and was defeated. In this battle, Taurus died. Plutarch wrote that Taurus was a general killed in the war between Crete and Athens. The later story of the Minotaur is the fruit of human invention and myth-making.
Other hypotheses and the cult of bulls
Minotaur could be borrowed Phoenician god under the name . Moloch was portrayed as a horned man, and children were sacrificed to him. The famous expression “fiery hell” came from the place where human sacrifices were made to Moloch - children were “led through the fire,” that is, they were burned alive. The cult of Moloch could well have been in Crete. The death of the Minotaur marked the end of this cult.
A number of modern historians consider the history of the Minotaur to be an allegorical story about the clash of Indo-Europeans with the cultures of the autochthonous "peoples of the sea". These "Sea Peoples" of unknown origin worshiped bulls. The clash was won by the more civilized Indo-Europeans in the modern sense. Also, the appearance of the Minotaur is suggestive of the beast-headed Egyptian gods.
Theseus, a novel by Mary Reno, contains a description of ritual sacrifices. They were called "bull belts" - a kind of protocorrida. Scenes with bovine belts are often found in frescoes from Cretan times. Artistic materials from the Minoan era contain images of taurocatapsy - ritual jumping over a bull. The cult of the worship of the bull was very powerful in Crete, and such rituals constituted a significant part of it.
A similar theme can be traced back to the Bronze Age, from where it migrated to the Hittite Kingdom, Syria, Bactria and the Indus Valley. Bullfighting and bull worship are common in Mediterranean cultures. Today, this phenomenon has survived as a Spanish bullfight.
The executioner's double-edged ax, labrys, was an integral part of the bull cult. Probably the "labyrinth" is a modified "labrys". Pre-Hellenic religions often practiced sacred bullfights, and Cretan demonology contains many people with bull heads. The minotaur living in the heart of the labyrinth was most likely a cruel legend echoing the even more terrifying rituals of Crete. The oldest forms of the legend of Theseus and the Minotaur say that the hero defeated the monster with a double-edged ax.
