Theseus and the Minotaur

The Story

Athens was forced to send young men and women to Crete as tribute to King Minos.

The victims were placed inside the Labyrinth, where they faced the Minotaur.

The Minotaur was a creature with human and bull-like form, born from Pasiphaë and the Cretan Bull.

The great craftsman Daedalus had constructed the Labyrinth so that the monster could be contained within its confusing passages.

Theseus, prince of Athens, volunteered to join one of the groups sent to Crete.

His purpose was not merely to survive.

He intended to kill the Minotaur and end the tribute.

When Theseus arrived in Crete, Ariadne, daughter of Minos, became attracted to him.

She agreed to help.

Ariadne provided Theseus with a thread that allowed him to mark his route through the Labyrinth.

Theseus entered the maze, found the Minotaur and killed it.

He then followed the thread back out.

The escape succeeded because strength alone was not enough. The Labyrinth itself was as dangerous as the monster, and Ariadne's practical solution made escape possible.

Theseus fled Crete with Ariadne and the surviving Athenians.

But the story did not end happily for everyone.

Ariadne was later left behind on the island of Naxos in the most familiar tradition, where she eventually became associated with Dionysus.

Theseus continued toward Athens.

Before leaving, he had agreed with his father Aegeus that he would change the ship's sails if the mission succeeded.

Theseus forgot.

Seeing the dark sails returning, Aegeus believed his son dead and threw himself into the sea.

Theseus returned as a victorious hero but inherited Athens through tragedy.