The+Minotaur

Justin Choi, Vincent Wang, Philip Yoo
 * The Minotaur**

__Summary__: - King Minos prayed to Poseidon to send him a snow-white bull as a sign of approval for his reign. - He also promised to sacrifice the bull as an offering and a symbol of his obedience. - However, when a beautiful white bull finally appeared out of the sea, Minos kept if for himself and sacrificed the best animal from his herd instead. - As punishment, Poseidon made the king’s wife, Pasipha, fall in love with the bull. - She then had Daedalus, a famous architect, make a wooden bull for her, which she then used to mate with the bull. - Their offspring was known as the Minotaur and it had the head and tail of a bull on the body of a man. - The hideous creature was so terrible that Minos summoned Daedalus again to build a large, intricate labyrinth that would trap the monster for all eternity. - Afterwards, the king decided to begin the ritual of sacrificing seven youths and maidens to the Minotaur every nine years. - Eventually, the Greek hero Theseus arrived in Athens and learned of the terrible crimes that were going on. - Minos’s daughter, Ariadne, promised to help the hero defeat the Minotaur and escape the labyrinth in exchange for his hand in marriage. - When Theseus agreed, he was given a ball of thread that he fastened to himself and the entrance of the maze. - He then made his way into the labyrinth, killed the sleeping creature, saved the prisoners, and followed the twine to safety.

- The history of the myth can be found all the way back in a time period when Crete was one of the main political and cultural countries. - From all over, weaker nations paid tribute to the great power and most likely sacrificed young men and women for the cause. - The ritual was done by a priest who disguised himself with a bull's head or mask, explaining the imagery of the Minotaur.

__Type of Myth__: - Hero Myth - Hubris/Punishment Myth

__Purpose__:

The first purpose of this myth is to entertain the audience, of course. It also teaches two lessons: do not break a vow with a god and do not be greedy. King Minos promised to sacrifice the white bull that Poseidon had provided, but instead, he sacrificed a different bull since he wanted to keep the white bull for himself. Poseidon punished him by making the wife of Minos to fall in love with the white bull. The myth also serves as a patriotism story. The Athenians often told this story, so their rivals, the people of Crete would be referred to as animals. The myth also marked the near end of King Minos's tyranny.

__Modern Connections:__ The myth involves the Minotaur being trapped in the labyrinth, and modern day games often involve getting out of a labyrinth, just as the Minotaur tried to do. - Examples: Wooden Labyrinth Puzzle; Theseus and that Pesky Minotaur (iPhone App); a myriad of computer games. - People who cannot afford to go on pilgrimages often use labyrinths that are set on floors for means of private meditation. - Labyrinths are found in today's churches and parks. They're used by mystics to achieve a pensive state. - There are a family of rockets used by the U.S Air Force known as Minotaur Rockets and they were also named after this myth.