There is no other culture on Earth that has given humanity so many myths and legends as the Greek one. Every educated person remembers from the school curriculum the stories about Daedalus and Icarus, the seven labors of Hercules, Prometheus, who gave people fire... And it’s no secret to anyone what the name of the island with the Minotaur’s labyrinth is.

Some will not be touched by these legends, but in someone’s heart a keen interest in Greek mythology will settle, which will then develop into a sincere love for this ancient, proud country. Then the Olympian gods will become understandable and familiar, the inviolable law of hospitality will reign in the house, and the heart will uncontrollably rush to the place where modern European civilization was born.

Athens has played a huge role in world history for thousands of years. And now, in 2015, the future fate of Europe largely depends on their decision. But there are places in Greece that are not so politicized, where time seems to flow more slowly, and life, like many centuries ago, is measured and peaceful. They are no less interesting historically, and it seems that the gods themselves guard this land.

Crete. Cradle of the Gods

It was on this island that Rhea hid the newborn Zeus from the bloodthirsty Kronos, who was fed by the mythical goat Amalthea with her milk in the Dictaean cave. Here, according to the beliefs of the Cretans, who doubt the immortality of the Thunderer, his grave is located.

The most visited attraction on this magnificent island is the Palace of Knossos. In its dungeons, Daedalus built a labyrinth in which King Minos hid the Minotaur for many years - a bloodthirsty monster with a human body and a powerful bull's head.

Ancient Greek myths. Theseus and Ariadne

The Minotaur became a sophisticated punishment sent by Poseidon to the Minoan ruler for refusing to sacrifice a beautiful animal to the gods. Minos's wife, the beautiful Pasithea, was inflamed with love for the bull, which, according to various legends, was sent to earth either by Poseidon or by Zeus himself. The bloodthirsty Minotaur became the fruit of their criminal passion.

The monster demanded regular human sacrifices. Every seven years, seven of the most beautiful Athenian boys and girls were brought to the island with the Minotaur’s labyrinth. According to one version, they became prey to the monster, according to another, they died a natural death from thirst and hunger, wandering in despair through the labyrinth and not finding a way out.

This injustice lasted for many years until the Athenian hero Theseus arrived in the Minotaur’s labyrinth as one of the victims, managing to defeat the bloodthirsty monster and free the country from the bloodthirsty tyrant. The Minotaur’s own sister helped him accomplish this feat, giving Theseus a guiding thread that helped the hero confidently find a way out and leave the labyrinth. Her name has long become a household name and is known almost more than the monster itself. The myth "Labyrinth of the Minotaur" made Ariadne the patroness of travelers. Its invisible threads will always show the right path and will not let hope go out.

Theories of Philochorus and Eusebius

The myth of the monster, whose refuge is the island with the labyrinth of the Minotaur, is very picturesque, but the real past is much more prosaic. The ancient Greek historian Philochor said that the labyrinth was an ordinary prison. King Minos loved to organize sports competitions, in which young Athenian boys, who were kept in prison until the right time, were presented as prizes. In most competitions, the Minoan commander named Taurus won, who then sophisticatedly mocked the captive youths.

Eusebius shares Philochorus' version. As a teacher of Minos, Taurus won all sports competitions held by Minos, receiving young strong guys as a reward. This continued until the meeting with Theseus, who managed to defeat the warrior. Plato in his treatises voices the version that Taurus did not take the lives of his captives, and they left the Cretan labyrinth of the Minotaur unharmed.

Modern interpretation

There are many versions about the meaning of this myth. Modern researchers are of the opinion that the labyrinth of the Minotaur is a legend that tells about the interaction and fusion of Indo-European structures and cultures of the peoples of the sea, in which the ancient Hellenic civilization turned out to be the strongest.

Knossos palace

Those who have ever seen the Palace of Knossos with their own eyes will immediately admit that if the labyrinth of the Minotaur ever existed in Crete, its most likely location was Knossos. The preserved walls of the palace, its rooms and passages form tangles in the most incredible way, finding a way out of which seems completely impossible. All the premises were built, from the point of view of modern man, in chaos and disorder, and yet scientists recognize the presence of a certain system in the building. The Minoans did not always strictly follow the laws of architecture, creating structures that seemed impossible to construct.

Now only ruins remind of its former greatness, under which the labyrinth of the Minotaur may be buried. Photos only partially convey the globality and thoughtfulness for which the buildings of ancient civilizations were famous.

The Palace of Knossos is located just five kilometers from modern Heraklion, and the area it once occupied, measuring 75 hectares, is truly amazing in its size. In those distant times, more than 12 thousand people permanently lived in the palace - the same number inhabited Heraklion.

Legend of Atlantis

The ruins that currently excite the imagination of tourists are the ruins of a second palace. The very first one was approximately erected in 2000 BC. e. And around 1700 BC. e. A devastating earthquake occurred on the island, almost completely leveling the palace to the ground. However, in its place, the Minoans built an equally beautiful structure, which to this day attracts millions of tourists like a magnet.

But the new Knossos Palace was not destined to please its inhabitants for long. No later than 1500 BC. e. A volcanic eruption on the island of Santorini caused a strong earthquake and a high tsunami, which led to the repeated destruction of the majestic structure.

What water couldn't do, fire did. A fire in 1450 BC finally destroyed the palace. The reason for it is still unknown to this day. It is noteworthy that in the same way other significant monuments of Minoan culture in Phaistos and Zakros were completely erased from the surface of the earth.

Most likely, humanity will never know for sure what led to the death of the Minoan civilization. As a result of numerous excavations carried out on the territory of the palace complex, no remains of people or animals were found. For some unknown reason, the inhabitants of Knossos left their homes. Where they went is also a mystery. All existing theories are nothing more than scientists' guesses. Some researchers associate Crete with the myth of the disappeared Atlantis, but neither confirmation of this theory nor its refutation still exists.

Traces of former greatness

And on the site of the palace, even in later periods, people always lived. However, the palace buildings were not destroyed or looted at all. Perhaps the peasants were held back by fear of the mythical Minotaur, who once lived in the labyrinth of the palace. Therefore, when the archaeologist Kalokerinos conducted the first excavations in 1878, he was surprised to discover not only the perfectly preserved premises of the palace, but also many unique artifacts that looked as if they had not lain in the ground for millennia. But large-scale excavations of the palace began only in 1900, when the surrounding lands were purchased by Arthur Evans, who forever entered the history of Crete.

The main architectural monument of Crete

A visit to the palace begins from the West Entrance. Many centuries ago, the main entrance to the palace was located here. Three huge pits immediately catch your eye, the purpose of which is still controversial among scientists. They believe that they were intended to store grain, others see them as a place for sacrifices and recall the labyrinth of the Minotaur.

Photos of these pits, however, look completely everyday and do not evoke sacred awe.

After passing the “Processional Road”, decorated with frescoes depicting young people making offerings to one of the goddesses, you can get to the Central Courtyard, paved with huge slabs. It was here that various ceremonies were held and mysterious rituals were performed.

The Southern House, which most likely belonged to the high priest, is perfectly preserved. The Southern Propylaea, in which the cult rooms of the palace were located, gaze majestically at the descendants. Climbing the stairs, you can see the Greek Temple - a building erected much later than the entire complex.

On the top floor of the palace there was a three-column sanctuary, a little further - a treasury, which gave humanity many unique artifacts, and then sanctuaries with two and six columns. Giant pithos - vessels for storing grain and olive oil as tall as a man, make an indelible impression on tourists. Wool, fabrics and other things that were especially valuable in those days were stored here.

The Hall of Frescoes and the Throne Room receive the greatest attention from tourists. Just like thousands of years ago, everyone’s attention is attracted by the stone throne, opposite which there is a bowl for ablutions. The imagination pictures how the priests, taking their places on stone benches, listened to every word of their master. During excavations, the famous Arthur Evans discovered a terrible disorder in the Throne Room, uncharacteristic of other rooms, which gave him reason to believe that something terrible and tragic had happened in the hall...

In the eastern wing, according to one version, there were living quarters of the royal family, megarons of the king and queen. To the west are the queen’s bathroom and cosmetic room, a school and a craftsmen’s workshop.

Provisions were stored in a warehouse in giant pithoi. The ancient builders did not forget about the impeccably functioning sewerage system; its fragments even today give an excellent idea of ​​the perfection of the Minoan civilization. The area of ​​the theater allowed the residents of Knossos to gather for the performance and enjoy the wonderful performance.

Throughout the palace complex there are swimming pools for ablutions, and later scientists began to doubt the truth of their purpose. However, even today they appear in guidebooks under this name.

Where is the monster's home hidden?

There is only one question that inquisitive tourists will not receive a reliable answer to: where is the labyrinth of the Minotaur? After all, many tourists flock to Knossos, guided by the ancient myth and hoping to touch the legend.

But not a single person on the planet can say for sure what the labyrinth of the Minotaur is - myth or reality? Like any theory, this one also has its supporters and opponents. The red bull of the Western Bastion clearly refers to an old legend. Its adherents are not at all embarrassed by the fact that the last Knossos Palace was completed much later than the legend about this mysterious creature appeared. And despite the fact that the development of modern science allows us to see deep underground, the place where the Minotaur’s labyrinth is securely hidden in the depths has never been discovered. There is an opinion that it is formed by numerous caves in the mountains near Gortyn, their narrow dark corridors and incomprehensible branches form a complex system of passages, from which it is almost impossible to get out. Stories are passed down from mouth to mouth about lucky people who allegedly saw unusual, unlike anything else creatures in these caves.

Indirectly, the reality of the labyrinth is indicated by coins that were minted in the ancient city of Knossos and depict precisely this intricate structure.

Opponents of fairy-tale theories deny the existence of the Labyrinth of Daedalus, as the labyrinth of the Minotaur is called after its creator, and argue that the intricate layout of the Knossos Palace, capable of confusing anyone, is a real labyrinth. Other scientists share the opinion that the mysterious structure is just a double ax “labrys”, which was the main weapon of the Minoans.

Spiritual labyrinth

In many cultures, the labyrinth has a sacred meaning. You can move forward and find yourself at a dead end, take a step and find a way out, or vice versa, wander in the dark for a long time and forever be mired in problems and doubts. And then the inner Minotaur will destroy everything good and good that is in every person.

The labyrinth serves as the personification of the complexity of the eternal struggle with dark forces, and the exit from it serves as evidence of the victory of good over evil.

Some researchers of Minoan culture are inclined to believe that the legend of the Minotaur's labyrinth is an encrypted message to descendants, telling about the clash of two cultures - the Indo-European and the civilization of the sea peoples who worship the bull. The destruction of the Minotaur, half-bull, half-man, indicates the victory of the ancient civilization over the alien tribes.

But be that as it may, tens of thousands of tourists come to the island of Crete every year in the hope of finding a mysterious labyrinth. After they failed to find him in Knossos, the geography of their search expanded significantly and now covers the entire island.

Address: Greece, Crete island, near Heraklion
Date of construction: 1700 BC e.
Coordinates: 35°17"52.7"N 25°09"46.5"E

Short description

Very close to the modern city of Heraklion, located on the legendary island of Crete, are 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 gigantic 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 then famous archaeologist Arthur Evans.

It is thanks to this man that modern travelers can see the place where, with the help of Ariadne’s thread, the great Greek hero and ruler of Athens, Theseus, was able to defeat the Minotaur and not get lost in a huge labyrinth.

Knossos Palace - history

According to historians, a huge temple in the city of Knossos was built two thousand years before our era. Archaeological excavations show that a settlement of ancient people previously existed in its place. By the way, the temple, built thanks to enormous efforts, lasted only about three hundred years.

The cause of its destruction was a strong earthquake, which, except for the “early” Knossos Palace, erased almost all buildings from the island. Immediately after the natural disaster, the ancient Greeks got to work again and built a new, simply gigantic palace, the ruins of which were discovered by Arthur Evans at the beginning of the twentieth century.

The construction of the new palace coincided with the heyday of the city of Knossos and the Minoan civilization. The Minoan civilization is perhaps one of the most mysterious and little-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 the whole of Crete. A detailed study of the ruins of the Knossos Palace led to the conclusion that the main cause of 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 residents of Knossos themselves burned their hometown or knew about the approaching disaster. This version, which is found in modern history textbooks, is supported by the fact that no skeletons of people or domestic animals were found during excavations on the territory of ancient Knossos. The townspeople probably knew about the fire and moved to the coast in advance. Some historians, relying on artifacts found in Palestine, similar in shape to artifacts discovered in Crete, make a rather bold statement: the first inhabitants of Knossos were Atlanteans. This version is quite controversial, although the very construction of a huge palace, which is about the same age as 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 us to study the depths of the sea in more detail 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?”

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 devoured seven beautiful girls and boys every nine years, lived in a huge labyrinth. To be fair, it is worth noting that this myth appeared when the ruins of the Knossos Palace were already 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 nearby islands and cities stopped sending their young inhabitants to Crete.

The famous thread of Ariadne helped Theseus find his way out of the labyrinth, which was supposedly located near the Palace of Knossos (or directly below it). From what sources did the ancient Greeks, who passed on the myth of Theseus, the Minotaur and Ariadne from generation to generation, know about the existence of the Knossos Palace and the Minoan civilization, still remains a mystery. Before the excavations, Arthur Evans relied solely on the reliability of this myth and, as time has shown, he turned out to be absolutely right, and maybe there is some truth in the myth of the monster...

Queen's Hall

The Palace of Knossos is the greatest architectural monument

It is safe to say that the Palace of Knossos, near which numerous groups of archaeologists can still be found today, is one of the most interesting attractions of modern Greece. Tourists wandering among the ruins often have the feeling that they have encountered something fantastic and inexplicable. Perhaps it appears after reading the myth of the Minotaur, or perhaps the very atmosphere, which is characteristic of the mysterious Crete, puts a person into a state somewhat similar to meditation. Crete and the ruins of the Palace of Knossos are often mentioned in tourist brochures. Not visiting this building, which was once one of the most majestic and, according to enthusiasts, was the palace of the Atlanteans, is an unforgivable mistake.

Nowadays, the palace is a huge number of buildings that are located near the courtyard. Of particular interest is that they were all designed by ancient architects at different levels. Each level was connected to each other 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 say that The palace of Knossos was the home of the ancient king, his wife and retinue. In addition, in the Knossos Palace there was a theater in which about six hundred people could watch the fight of two angry bulls (!).

Throne room

Surprisingly, among the ruins, experts found perhaps the oldest sewerage system on our planet, as well as a water supply system. Due to the fact that the Knossos Palace was buried underground for a long time and was inaccessible to robbers, it preserved unique frescoes depicting mythical creatures. Among the ruins, priceless exhibits made of gold and expensive stones were recovered 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 the building, shards and vessels is a double axe. In Greek this weapon sounds like “labrys”. Most linguists believe that the word “labyrinth” comes from this name. Isn't this another confirmation of the veracity of the myth of the Minotaur?

Palace frescoes

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, which is impossible to solve even in our age of technological progress .

A traveler who decides to see with his own eyes the Palace of Knossos, a place with which so many legends, myths and secrets are associated, should know that entrance to its territory is paid. The price of the entrance ticket by the standards of the European Union is symbolic, and is only 6 euros. The open-air palace museum is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. On days recognized as national holidays in Greece, access to the Palace of Knossos is absolutely free.

Knossos Palace on the map

The Minotaur is a monster from Crete, the main opponent of Theseus. Described as a man with a bull's head, he lived in an intricate labyrinth. Killed by Theseus.

In the article:

The Legend of the Origin of the Minotaur

Greek legends described him as a monster of great stature, with the body of an athlete and the head of a bull. His mother was Pasiphae (not to be confused with Pasithea), daughter of the sun god Helios and queen of Crete, wife of Minos. Minos ascended the throne only by 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 him 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 killed another, ordinary one. Poseidon became angry and instilled in Pasiphae an unnatural attraction to the bull. According to some sources, Poseidon himself (in some myths - Zeus) turned into a bull to copulate with the queen. To achieve this, the Athenian engineer Daedalus came up with a clever design in the form of a bronze cow attractive to a bull. It was hollow from the inside, and Pasiphae was in it.

After the due date, the queen gave birth to a monster. The 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 once every nine years, seven males and seven females. In some myths, seven children were sacrificed to the Minotaur.

Pausanias wrote that the Minotaur's real name was Asterem, that is, “starry”. Antique vases with images of this beast almost always contain images of stars or eyes. Mycenaean texts also contain references to a certain mistress of the labyrinth, who could probably be Ariadne.

Minotaur and Theseus

Diodorus writes that Theseus sailed in the second party, and Plutarch claimed that in the third. But what is known for sure is that the hero became one of the victims of the Minotaur after he killed him. According to some sources, to reduce the resistance of prisoners, they were deprived of their sight. According to others, it was impossible to leave the intricate labyrinth, and those who escaped death at the hands of the Minotaur simply died without water and food.

Theseus was among the fourteen victims. Along with the others, he was thrown into the 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) She gave him a ball of thread with her, which Theseus unwound all the way. As a result, he and the other prisoners left the labyrinth unharmed. The throne at Amykla contains an image of the captive Minotaur, whom Theseus led on a rope.

Rationalistic version of the legend of the Minotaur

Philochor, and after it Eusebius in their works 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 establish a competition in which his teacher fought with the Athenian youths sent. 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 a very ordinary prison. Simple prisoners were housed within its walls, and in very tolerable conditions. Minos held annual competitions in honor of Androgeus, his son, who was killed by the Athenians. The winner received boys and girls 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 his slaves. Aristotle's "Government of Bottia" clearly expresses the author’s idea that it was simply unprofitable to kill the sent people - young people were highly valued on the slave market. They most likely remained slaves in Crete until the end of their days.

Historian Daemon believed that Taurus was a commander whose fleet entered into battle with Theseus’s fleet in the harbor and was defeated. Taurus died in this battle. 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 depicted as a horned man, and children were sacrificed to him. The famous expression “gehenna of fire” comes from the place where human sacrifices were made to Molech - children were “carried through the fire,” that is, burned alive. The cult of Moloch could well have been located in Crete. The death of the Minotaur marked the end of this cult.

A number of modern historians believe the story of the Minotaur is 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 revered bulls. The clash was won by the Indo-Europeans, who were more civilized in the modern sense. Also, the appearance of the Minotaur makes one think of the beast-headed Egyptian gods.

Theseus, a novel by Mary Renault, contains a description of ritual sacrifices. They were called “bull belts” - a kind of proto-bullfight. Scenes with bull belts are often found on frescoes of Cretan times. Artistic materials of the Minoan era contain images of taurocatapsia - ritual jumping over a bull. The cult of the bull was very strong in Crete, and such rituals formed a significant part of it.

Similar themes 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 survives as Spanish bullfighting.

The executioner's double-edged ax - “labrys”, was an integral part of the bull cult. Probably “labyrinth” is a modified version of “labrys”. Pre-Hellenic religions often practiced sacred bullfights, and Cretan demonology contains many people with bull heads. The Minotaur living at the heart of the labyrinth was most likely a cruel legend, an echo of the even more terrifying rituals of Crete. The most ancient forms of the legend of Theseus and the Minotaur say that the hero defeated the monster with a double-edged axe.

Myths of Ancient Greece They talk about the existence of Knossos (Knossos Palace), where King Minos reigned, and in the Labyrinth of his palace lived a terrible monster, the Minotaur - a creature with the head of a bull and the body of a man, feeding on human flesh!

But in short, it all began with the fact that the mighty Zeus, the supreme god of Olympus, saw the beautiful Europa, the daughter of a rich Phoenician king. He saw and desired. In order not to frighten the girl and her friends, he took on the guise of a wonderful bull. His fur sparkled, his golden horns were curved, and on his forehead a silver spot burned like a moon. The bull's breath was fragrant with ambrosia, and the whole air was filled with this aroma. A wonderful bull appeared in a clearing and approached the maidens, among whom was Europe, as they frolicked and picked flowers. The maidens surrounded the wondrous animal and affectionately stroked it. The bull approached Europe, licked her hands and caressed her. Then he lay down quietly at her feet, offering to sit on him.

Laughing, Europe sat down on the broad back of the bull. Other girls also wanted to sit next to her. But suddenly the bull jumped up and rushed to the sea. The golden-horned bull rushed like the wind, then he rushed into the sea and quickly, like a dolphin, swam through the azure waters. The waves of the sea parted before him, and soon the shores of Crete appeared in the distant sea. Zeus the bull quickly swam to him with his precious burden and went ashore. Europa became the wife of Zeus and lived from then on in Crete. TThree sons were born to her from Zeus: Minos, Rhadamanthis and Sarpidon. Europa later married the king of Crete, Asterion, who adopted the children of Zeus. After Asterion's death, his eldest son, Minos, became king. He married Pasiphae, the daughter of the sun god Helios and the nymph Kriti. They had 4 sons and 4 daughters, including the beautiful Ariadne. Together they lived in the Knossos Palace.

During one great holiday, Minos wanted to make a sacrifice in honor of the god of the sea Poseidon and asked him that Poseidon would send a magnificent animal for this (this is a strange manner of making sacrifices, having first asked for them;). In response, Poseidon sent a beautiful white bull from the sea. So beautiful that Minos took pity on him and sacrificed another bull. Poseidon was very angry, and in order to punish Minos, he inspired the voluptuous queen Parsifae with an insane passion for the white bull. To satisfy her perverted passion, Parsifai turned to the famous master Daedalus. Daedalus made an empty effigy of a cow, and when Parsifae entered the effigy, the bull was reunited with her. From this disgusting copulation The Minotaur, a monster with a human body and a bull's head, was born. To avoid scandal, King Minos locked the Minotaur in Labyrinth, a complex structure that Daedalus built for this.

The further fate of the white bull is unknown.

The myth further tells about Androgeos, the son of Minos, who took part in the games in Athens and became a winner in all sports disciplines. One of the offended Athenians ambushed and killed him. This murder angered Minos; he immediately declared war on Athens and set off on a campaign. The compensation he demanded from the Athenian king Aegeus was much harsher and more shameful than the defeat of Athens itself: every 9 years Aegeus had to send 7 girls and 7 boys to the Labyrinth. They were locked in a huge palace, the Labyrinth, where they were devoured by a terrible monster.

Theseus and the Minotaur

The son of the Athenian king, the young hero Theseus, decided to stop paying this terrible tribute and protect the innocent. When ambassadors from Crete arrived for the third time to collect the due tribute, everyone in Athens was plunged into deep sadness and equipped a ship with black sails. Theseus voluntarily became one of the young men sent to Crete with the sole purpose of killing the Minotaur. King Aegeus categorically did not want to let his only son go, but Theseus insisted on his own.

In Crete, in Knossos, the powerful king of Crete immediately drew attention to a beautiful, muscular young man. Minos's daughter, Ariadne, also noticed him. Ariadne was fascinated by Theseus and decided to help him. Knowing that the Labyrinth was built so that anyone who got there would never be able to find a way out, she secretly gave Theseus a sharp sword and a ball (Ariadne’s thread) secretly from her father, which helped him not to get lost. Theseus tied a thread at the entrance and entered the Labyrinth, gradually unwinding the ball. Theseus walked further and further and finally saw the Minotaur. With a menacing roar, bowing his head with huge sharp horns, the Minotaur rushed at the hero. A terrible battle began. Finally, Theseus grabbed the Minotaur by the horn and plunged his sharp sword into his chest. Having killed the Minotaur, Theseus, with the help of a ball of thread, found a way back and brought out all the Athenian boys and girls. Theseus quickly equipped his ship and, having cut through the bottom of all the Cretan ships, hastily set off on the return journey. Ariadne also left Knossos and sailed away with Theseus.

However, Ariadne and Theseus were not destined to live happily ever after. Theseus had to give Ariadne to the god Dionysus. She did not reach Athens. Ariadne, the wife of the great Dionysus, became the goddess. But that is another story...

Theseus's ship rushed on its black sails across the azure sea, approaching the shores of Attica. Theseus, saddened by the loss of Ariadne, forgot about the agreement with his father - he was supposed to replace the black sails with white ones in case of a safe return. Aegeus was waiting for his son. A dot appeared in the distance, now it is growing, approaching the shore, and it is already clear that this is his son’s ship, a ship with black sails. This means that Theseus is dead! In despair, Aegeus threw himself from a high cliff into the sea, and the waves threw his lifeless body onto the shore. Since then, the sea in which Aegeus perished has been called the Aegean.

At this time, in the palace of Knossos, Daedalus, whom Minos was holding captive so that he would not leave and reveal the secret of the Labyrinth, was planning his escape. Using artificial wings, which were held together with wax, he flew away with his son Icarus. Then you probably know everything. Icarus, carried away by flight, flew too high towards the sun, the hot rays of the sun melted the wax, and... The sea in which young Icarus died was called Icarian.

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An abandoned stone quarry on the Greek island of Crete, consisting of an intricate network of underground tunnels, may well turn out to be the legendary labyrinth of the Minotaur, the same monster with the head of a bull and the body of a man from ancient myths. According to legends, criminals were regularly brought to the Minotaur to devour. In addition, every nine years, seven Athenian youths and seven Athenian girls, sent by the Greeks as tribute to the king, were given to him to be devoured...

In the summer of 2009, an Anglo-Greek team of archaeologists carefully examined a quarry located near the ruins of the city of Gortyn in the south of the island. Scientists have concluded that these underground tunnels have much more reason to be called the labyrinth of the Minotaur than the Minoan palace at Knossos, located about 30 kilometers from the quarry.

For the last century - since archaeologists began to study Knossos - the myth of the Minotaur has been firmly associated only with the Palace of Knossos. Every year about 600 thousand tourists came there, to whom the guides told that the legendary King Minos once lived in the palace. It was on his orders that the labyrinth was built - a refuge for the Minotaur, the son of his wife Pasiphae and the bull.

However, historians now believe that the network of caves near Gortyna, the ancient Roman capital on Crete, has an equal chance with Knossos to be considered a contender for the title of Labyrinth. At least if we take seriously the idea that the myth of the Minotaur is about a real place and a real king.

Geographer Nicholas Howarth of Oxford, who led the expedition, said the connection between Gortyna and the Labyrinth may have been forgotten thanks to the famous theories of Sir Arthur Evans, the English archaeologist who excavated Knossos between 1900 and 1935 and developed the concept of the Minoan civilization.

Theseus's fight with the Minotaur, antique ceramics. OK. 500-450 BC e.

“People come to Knossos not only to see the remains of the ancient city excavated and restored by Evan, but also in search of the connection of this place with the mythical Age of Heroes. It is a shame that most visitors to Knossos have never even heard of other possible locations for the Labyrinth,” Howarth said.

Researchers from Oxford worked together with specialists from the Hellenic Speleological Society. They discovered that black archaeologists had already been here before them, who wanted to blow up one of the caves in the hope of finding a hidden treasure room.

The caves are a 4-kilometer-long network of tunnels that run through large caverns and often end in dead-end rooms. Curious travelers have come to this labyrinth since the Middle Ages. But when archaeologists discovered Knossos at the end of the 19th century, the caves were abandoned. During World War II, the Nazis had an ammunition depot there.

According to Nicholas Howarth, when you enter these caves at Gortyna, you immediately feel that this is a dark and dangerous place where it is easy to get lost. Therefore, he is skeptical of Evans' hypothesis that the Palace of Knossos is the same Labyrinth. His considerable authority in scientific circles undoubtedly played a role in the stability of the English archaeologist’s version.

In addition to Knossos and Gortyna, there is also a third possible location of the Labyrinth - a cave complex on the territory of mainland Greece in Skotino. According to Howarth, based on archaeological evidence, it would be very difficult to argue that the Labyrinth ever existed. All three of the above places can lay claim to the title of Labyrinth. But for now, the answer to the question: was the labyrinth fiction or reality remains open.