Minotaur

     The Minotaur is a haunting monster that dwells in the maze of the labyrinth. The legend of the creature starts with Minos of Crete who prayed to Poseidon, God of the sea to send a white bull as a symbol that he should inhabit the throne. As thanks for the God’s help, Minos promised Poseidon that he would sacrifice the bull in his name. However once the white bull arrived from the sea, Minos went back on his word and kept the bull as a part of his herd. As punishment for the deceit, Poseidon put a curse on Minos’ wife that made her fall madly in love with white bull. As a result of their love making, the hideous Minotaur was born taking on the body of a man and the head of a bull. Mino banished the creature to the labyrinth where every year he was fed seven youths and maidens. Eventually the monster was slain by the hero Theseus who escapes the maze using only a ball of twine.

A Roman copy of a Greek Original Minotaur. The raised arms and tilted head indicate that the position of that statue was made to look as though the figure was being taken under control. Located at the Museo Nazionale Romano

Atsma, Aaron J. "MINOTAUR : Bull-headed Man of the Labyrinth of Crete." Theoi Project. N.p., 2000. Web. 16 Aug. 2013. <http://www.theoi.com/Ther/Minotauros.html>.

Lindemans, Micha F. "Minotaur." Encyclopedia Mythica. Encyclopedia Mythica Online, 3 Mar. 1997. Web. 16 Aug. 2013. <http://www.pantheon.org/articles/m/minotaur.html>.