Most contemporaries are more or less familiar with ancient Greek myths. In one case, the sources are textbooks on the history of a secondary school or higher educational institution, in the other, studying the folklore of the distant past is a component of self-education. There is a considerable category of people to whom the study of mythology gives spiritual satisfaction. Many people know the myth of the Minotaur, which lived far in the ocean.
Minotaur in Crete
One of the spectacular mythical characters is the Minotaur with a specific body structure - the head of a bull, and everything else - the body, arms and legs - are human. In other words, this is a kind of terrible hybrid.
The monster of Crete was lucky to live not somewhere, but in the Palace, which as a whole was such a complex underground labyrinth that any person who got there was doomed to get lost and disappear there forever. The Minotaur spent most of his time in the center of the eerie room. Word of mouth passed the myth of the Minotaur. Briefly people talked about how cruel this creature is.
The mention of the Minotaur in most Athenians caused a feeling of fear. Residents were forced to regularly select every 7 years of 7 representatives of both sexes of a 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 among many peoples belonged to the category of magic. Apparently, the Minotaur was of the same opinion.
But once among the "chosen ones" Theseus appeared, who was the son of King Aegeus, who ruled in Athens. With the advent 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 Efra, who at that time was the princess of Teser. The father did not raise his son because he was far from the family hearth. Before breaking up with his wife, Aegeus hid under a heavy stone sandals and a sword, which the matured Theseus had to take. The will of Aegeus was fulfilled by a sixteen-year-old son. Desiring to see his father, Theseus headed to Athens, having accomplished many deeds along the way.
Even at school, everyone is studying the famous myth of the Minotaur. You can read the summary below.
How did Theseus deal with the Minotaur?
So, Theseus, who was to go to the Minotaur, was determined to once and for all put an end to the monstrous tradition of sacrifice, the need for people to live in constant fear.
The success of the mission was facilitated by one circumstance. The Cretan king had a daughter, Ariadne. Very strong feelings began between her and Theseus. Ariadne presented her lover with a magical guiding thread so that he could navigate in the maze. Due to such a gift, the myth of the Minotaur ended well.
Theseus did everything as Ariadne taught him: tied the end of the magic thread to the front door and lowered the ball to the floor. Following him through the confused maze, the brave warrior found the Minotaur sleeping in the den. Using the convenient moment, he strangled the monster with his bare hands. Theseus got the same thread out of the labyrinth that he wound all the way into a ball.
You can only imagine the joy and relief of people who learned that the Minotaur is gone. The winner, apparently, felt that he could not live without a lover. Therefore, leaving the island, he abducted Ariadne. Fate decreed in his own way, on the way the deep sea took the girl. Probably, this happened not without the participation of Poseidon. If not for the machinations of the gods, then the myth of the Minotaur would end positively for the two lovers. The summary allows you to understand how the fate of the heroes.
Theseus was so saddened that he even forgot to change the flag on the ship - a conventional sign announcing victory. Tsar Aegeus regarded the black flag on the sailing 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 dead king, the sea in which the king of Athens drowned was called the Aegean.
After Theseus strangled the monster with the head of a bull, none of the mortals dared to enter the maze. And so ended the famous myth of the Minotaur.
A myth immortalized in the art and memory of the people
The authenticity of the story described above can, of course, be called into question. 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 people wishing to visit Crete and get acquainted with ancient mythical sights is not reduced.
Images of the main characters of the Minotaur myth are present on the canvases of paintings, they painted vases, they are presented in the form of sculptures. The impressive cost of these masterpieces of art does not impede the demand for them. The memory of Theseus and Ariadne, thanks to which 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.