Minotaur
In Greek mythology, the monster with a human body and a bull's head who was the offspring of queen Pasiphae of Crete by a bull. The bull was given to Minos, king of Crete and husband to Pasiphae, by Poseidon.
The bull was supposed to be sacrificed, but instead Minos decided to keep it. To punish him, Poseidon (in some accounts, Aphrodite) caused Pasiphae to fall madly in love with the bull and to prevail over Daedalus to construct a cow-like device within which she might gratify her passion.
When the Minotaur was born Minos did not kill him. Instead, he had Daedalus construct a place of confinement, the Labyrint at Cnossus, from which escape was impossible. Every nine years, seven young men and seven maidens were sent from Athens to be devoured by the Minotaur.
The labyrinth was so skillfully designed that no one could escape from the maze or the Minotaur. Daedalus revealed the secret of the labyrinth only to Ariadne, daughter of Minos.
With the help of love-struck Ariadne, the Athenian hero Theseus penetrated to the heart of the labyrinth, killed the Minotaur and made his way safely out again.
See Icarus, Zeus, Artemis, Hermes, Delphi, The Cambridge History of Hellenistic Philosophy, The Chiron Dictionary of Greek & Roman Mythology: Gods and Goddesses, Heroes, Places, and Events of Antiquity, The Earth, the Temple, and the Gods: Greek Sacred Architecture, Mystic Gifts and Charms - New Age Gift Shop & Wicca and Pagan Supplies, Love Spells -- Use these powerful love spells to help you find and keep your true love, The Tarot Store, Divination & Scrying Tools and Supplies, Unique Amulets, Talismans, Good Luck Charms, and Love Tokens, Powerful Witch Doctor Spell Kits, Powerful Spells - Cast by Andreika the Witch, Webmasters Make $$$, AzureGreen - Celebrating All Paths to the Divine, ISIS - Tools for Your Soul's Journey, and The Pyramid Collection - Myth, Magick, Fantasy and Romance.
Sources: (1) Cooper, J.C. (Editor), Brewer's Book of Myth and Legend, Cassell Academic Publishing; (2) Evans, Bergen, Dictionary of Mythology, Dell Publishing Co., Inc.; (3) Dixon-Kennedy, Mike, Encyclopedia of Greco-Roman Mythology, ABC-Clio Inc. Publishers; (4) Ayto, John, Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase & Fable, Collins Reference Publishing.
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