The myth of minotaur

The myth of Minotaur

In Greek mythology, Minotaur was a creature with the body of a human and a head and tail of a bull.

He lived in the labyrinth, in the palace basement, a building made by Daedalus. The king of Crete Minoas ordered Daedalus to build the labyrinth. The maze had so many corridors and rooms that nobody managed to get out of there. Theseus, the son of King of Athens, killed the Minotaur.

Here is the whole story:

Many years ago Androgeos, the son of Minoas took part in the games of Panathinaia and won.

The Athenians were jealous and killed him.

Minoas wanted to punish them, so he made war and won.

Panathinaia

The punishment was that every year seven young men and seven young women from Athens should be sent to Crete for Minotaur to eat.

Theseus, the son of the king of Athens, couldn’t accept this punishment, so he desided to be one of the 14 young people sent to Crete.

He wanted to be near the Minotaur so as to kill him.

When he arrived in Crete, he met Minoas’ daughter, Ariadne, who fell in love with him.

She wanted to help him, so she gave him a ball of string , the “mitos�.

“Come here”, said Ariadne, “ I'll help you. Take this ball of thread”. “ What for” ? asked Theseus.

“Tie the end of the thread at the entrance of the labyrinth and unreel it to find your way out after killing the Minotaur”. “ Thank you princess”, Theseus said. “Help me and then I will do whatever you ask me”.

“Good luck”!!! said the princess.

Theseus took the “mitos� and his sword and went into the maze.

Theseus killed the monster with his sword and, using Ariadne’s mitos, he found his way out of the labyrinth.

Ariadne was waiting outside and led him by a secret passage out of the palace.

“Well, what do you want from me, my princess” ? asked Theseus.

“Take me with you in Athens”, said Ariadne. “ It is my pleasure”, said Theseus and kissed her hand.

So secretly they went to the boat and left for their trip.

Theseus’ father, Aegeas had told him to change the ship’s sails if he killed Minotaur and put the white sails on.

Every day he was looking at the sea from cape Sounio to see his son.

But Theseus was very excited and forgot what his father had told him, so he returned with black sails. Aegeas saw the ship and was so sad that he fell into the sea.

That’s why the sea is called the Aegean Sea.

Other paintings and activities‌

Crete

Theseus was very strong!!! He lifted a large rock, to get his sword

Theseus , 7 young men and women and Minotaur

The ship

The palace

Theseus with his sword and the “mitos”

Theseus in the labyrinth

Theseus and Minotaur

Ariadne and the “mitos”

Theseus and Ariadne

The cape Sounio and Aegeas

Theater games

Today : The Palace of Knossos where the labyrinth is located

Created by Konstantinia Saoulidou Teacher of 20 & 56 Primary whole day school Herakleio 2016 -17