Minotaur facts for kids
 Minotaur bust, (National Archaeological Museum of Athens)
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| Grouping | Mythological creature |
|---|---|
| Parents | Cretan Bull and Pasiphaë |
| Mythology | Greek |
| Region | Crete |
The Minotaur (Greek: Μινώταυρος) is a famous creature from Greek mythology. Imagine a being that is half-bull and half-man! He usually had the head of a bull and the body of a man. This powerful creature lived deep inside a huge, confusing maze called the Labyrinth.
The Labyrinth was built on the island of Crete. It was designed by a very clever inventor named Daedalus for King Minos. The Minotaur was eventually defeated and killed by a brave hero named Theseus.
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Who Was the Minotaur?
The Minotaur was a monster with a sad and strange beginning. His mother was Queen Pasiphaë of Crete. His father was a magnificent white bull, known as the Cretan Bull. This bull was sent by the god Poseidon.
King Minos was supposed to sacrifice the bull to Poseidon. But he liked the bull so much that he kept it instead. Poseidon was very angry about this. As a punishment, he made Pasiphaë fall in love with the bull. The Minotaur was born from this unusual union.
The Labyrinth: A Giant Maze
Because the Minotaur was a terrifying monster, King Minos needed a way to keep him contained. He asked the brilliant architect and inventor, Daedalus, to build a special prison. Daedalus created the Labyrinth, a massive and complex maze.
The Labyrinth was so confusing that once you entered, it was almost impossible to find your way out. It had countless twists, turns, and dead ends. The Minotaur lived at the very center of this incredible maze.
The Tribute to the Minotaur
King Minos ruled over a powerful kingdom. He had a conflict with Athens, a city in Greece. As a result, Athens had to send a terrible tribute to Crete every few years. This tribute was seven young men and seven young women.
These young people were sent into the Labyrinth. They were meant to be food for the Minotaur. This was a very sad and scary tradition for the people of Athens.
Theseus: The Hero of Athens
One day, a brave prince from Athens named Theseus decided to put an end to this cruel tribute. He volunteered to be one of the young people sent to Crete. His goal was to kill the Minotaur and free his city from this burden.
When Theseus arrived in Crete, Ariadne, King Minos's daughter, fell in love with him. She wanted to help him succeed. Ariadne gave Theseus a magical sword and a ball of thread.
Defeating the Minotaur
Theseus entered the Labyrinth, holding onto the thread. He unwound the thread as he went deeper into the maze. This way, he would be able to find his way back out. He followed the sounds of the Minotaur until he found the beast.
A fierce battle took place inside the dark and winding passages of the Labyrinth. Using the magical sword and his own courage, Theseus managed to defeat and kill the Minotaur. After his victory, he followed the thread back to the entrance. He then escaped Crete with Ariadne and the other Athenian youths.
Images for kids
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The bronze "Horned God" from Enkomi, Cyprus
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Rhyton in the shape of a bull's head, Heraklion Archaeological Museum
