The Minotaur
Not long after Aegeus had acknowledged Theseus as his son and heir, Athens was thrown
into mourning. Heralds had arrived from Crete to demand for the third time the terrible
human tribute which every nine years had to be paid to King Minos.
Years before, Androgeos, the son of Minos, had gone to Athens to take part in the games. He
had shown great prowess, overcoming all the Greeks. Provoked by this, Aegeus had
treacherously caused Androgeos to be slain, whereupon King Minos made war on him. The
King of Crete raised a great fleet and pressed Aegeus so hard that he was glad to make peace
at any price. And the price was terrible – a tribute of seven youths and seven maidens to be
sent to Crete and thrown to the Minotaur, the monster half-man, half-bull that lived in the
labyrinth.
Theseus saw that the Athenians were deeply angry with his father, who had brought this grief
upon them. At once he offered to go to Minos.
“No, no, my son!” Aegeus pleaded. “The victims will be chosen by lot. Wait and see if you
are selected. I have but newly found you.”
But Theseus was like a rock. “I will be one of the fourteen,” he said. “Whether I am chosen
or not.”
So Aegeus had to yield. Weeping, and with all Athens following, he went with the victims to
the dismal ship.
“O my father, do not weep so,” Theseus told him. “All is as the gods will. It may indeed be
my fate to slay the Minotaur, and we who sail today in sorrow may yet return in joy. If so,
you will know the good news from afar. For I promise you, if the Minotaur be slain, the ship
that brings us home will not wear these deadly black sails but victorious white ones.”
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The myth of Theseus and the Minotaur is one of the most famous in all of Greek mythology.
King Minos, the powerful ruler of Crete, lost his only son Androgeos while the boy was in
Athens. In revenge, King Minos vowed to destroy Athens unless every year seven maidens
and seven men were sent to Crete. These sacrificial youth would be fed to the Minotaur, a
half-bull and half-human, who lived inside a labyrinth.
76 Lesson 40 1
After this the vessel took to the sea, the land slipped away, and the youths and maidens
turned their faces toward Crete.
At Cnossos, the capital of Crete, crowds gathered to see the Athenians whom the
Minotaur would soon devour. With many a taunt the captives were paraded in front of the
palace. Everyone ran out to see the victims, and with them Ariadne, King Minos’ lovely
daughter. She stood with a throng of her maidens and looked on as did the rest. But her
gentle eyes fixed themselves on one alone – on princely Theseus, who, head high and eyes
proudly flashing, marched looking neither to the right nor to the left. A surge of sudden love
swept over the princess. And as the taunts rose all around her, she promised herself: “He
shall not die!”
As soon as night fell, Ariadne stole out of the palace and went secretly to the captives.
“Fair youth,” she whispered to Theseus, “I who for my brother’s sake should be your enemy
am not. Therefore, I have brought you this.” And she took from the folds of her dress a
glistening sword and put it in Theseus’ hand.
He grasped it joyfully and strapped it beneath his garments. “Now let the Minotaur roar as
loud as he will—he will roar in vain!” Theseus said. “Thanks, gracious Princess. May I live
to serve you!”
Ariadne then confessed her love, and Theseus, who found it easy enough to give his in
return, promised ardently to make her his wife.
“Indeed I would have it so,” Ariadne said. “But there is one thing more,” she added.
“Without it the sword would be useless, for you would never be able to find your way out of
the labyrinth, which the Athenian Daedalus built. The Minotaur’s house is a maze. The
passages turn and turn and lead into one another and end nowhere. None who enters may
come forth again. Take, therefore, this ball of thread. Tie one end to the inside of the door
and unwind the ball as you go. Then, winding it again, you will be able to retrace your
steps.”
So it was that the hero met the Minotaur in the gloomy depths of the labyrinth and was not
afraid. He came upon the monster sleeping and leaped on him and battled furiously with him.
And when the creature lay dead at his feet, Theseus picked up the ball of thread and wound it
back to the entrance.
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77 Lesson 40 2
What joy there was when Theseus’ glad voice resounded through the passages and his
companions saw their leader emerge! What embracing, what happy talk of home! With
stealthy steps they made their way to their vessel, where Ariadne stood anxiously waiting for
them. Deftly they hoisted sail, dipped their oars, and left the harbor so noiselessly that the
Cretans never awoke to realize their loss.
Meantime at Athens King Aegeus daily mounted the cliffs by the sea and sorrowfully
strained his old eyes in the direction of Crete. At last he saw the ship approaching—and his
heart died within him. Black sails drank the wind. In the joy of homecoming, Theseus had
forgotten to change the dismal sails of mourning.
“My son is dead!” the unhappy King cried out. “Why, then, do I live?”
Grief overpowered him and he cast himself headlong into the sea, which ever after has borne
his name. central idea written like a 8th grader
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