There is no other culture on Earth that has given mankind so many myths and legends as the Greek one. Every educated person from the school curriculum remembers the stories of Daedalus and Icarus, the seven labors of Hercules, Prometheus, who gave fire to people ... And it is no secret to anyone what the name of the island with the labyrinth of the Minotaur is.
These legends will not touch someone, but a lively interest in Greek mythology will settle in someone's heart, which will then develop into a sincere love for this ancient proud country. Then the Olympic gods will become understandable and dear, the indestructible law of hospitality will reign in the house, and the heart will irresistibly rush to where modern European civilization was born.
Athens has played a huge role in world history for thousands of years. And now, in 2015, the fate of Europe largely depends on their decision. But there are places in Greece that are not so politicized, where time seems to flow more slowly, and life, like many centuries ago, is measured and peaceful. They are no less interesting in historical terms, and it seems that the gods themselves guard this land.
Crete. Cradle of the gods
It was on this island that Rhea hid the newborn Zeus from the bloodthirsty Kronos, who was fed with her milk by the mythical goat Amalthea in the Dictean cave. Here, according to the beliefs of the Cretans, who doubt the immortality of the Thunderer, is his grave.
The most visited attraction of this magnificent island is the Palace of Knossos. In its dungeons, Daedalus built a labyrinth in which King Minos hid the Minotaur for many years - a bloodthirsty monster with a human body and a powerful bull's head.
Ancient Greek myths. Theseus and Ariadne
The Minotaur became a sophisticated punishment sent by Poseidon to the Minoan ruler for refusing to sacrifice a beautiful animal to the gods. The wife of Minos, the beautiful Pasithea, was inflamed with love for the bull, which, according to various legends, was sent to earth either by Poseidon or by Zeus himself. The bloodthirsty Minotaur became the fruit of their criminal passion.
The monster demanded regular human sacrifices. Every seven years, seven of the most beautiful Athenian boys and girls were delivered to the island with the labyrinth of the Minotaur. According to one version, they became the prey of a monster, according to another, they died a natural death from thirst and hunger, wandering desperately through the labyrinth and not finding a way out.
This injustice lasted for many years, until the Athenian hero Theseus arrived as one of the victims in the labyrinth of the Minotaur, who managed to defeat the bloodthirsty monster and free the country from the bloodthirsty tyrant. The sister of the Minotaur helped him to carry out this feat, giving Theseus a guiding thread that helped the hero to confidently find a way out and leave the labyrinth. Her name has long become a household name and is known almost more than the monster itself. The myth "Labyrinth of the Minotaur" made Ariadne the patroness of travelers. Her invisible threads will always show the right path and will not let hope go out.
Theories of Philochora and Eusebius
The myth of the monster, whose refuge is the island with the labyrinth of the Minotaur, is very picturesque, but the real past is much more prosaic. Even the ancient Greek historian Philochor told that the labyrinth was an ordinary prison. King Minos liked to arrange sports competitions, in which young Athenian boys, who were kept in prison until the right time, were exhibited as a prize. In most competitions, the Minoan commander named Taurus won, who then subtly mocked the captive youths.
Eusebius shares Philochor's version. As a teacher of Minos, Taurus won all the sports competitions held by Minos, receiving young strong guys as a reward. This continued until the meeting with Theseus, who managed to defeat the warrior. Plato, in his treatises, voices the version that Taurus did not take the life of his captives, and they left the Cretan labyrinth of the Minotaur safe and sound.
Modern interpretation
There are many versions about the meaning of the content of this myth. Modern researchers are of the opinion that the labyrinth of the Minotaur is a legend that tells about the interaction and merging of Indo-European structures and cultures of the peoples of the sea, in which the ancient Hellenic civilization turned out to be the strongest.
Knossos palace
Those who have ever seen the Palace of Knossos with their own eyes will immediately recognize that if the labyrinth of the Minotaur ever existed in Crete, Knossos was its most likely location. The surviving walls of the palace, its rooms and passages in the most incredible way form plexuses, finding a way out of which seems to be completely impossible. All premises are built, from the point of view of a modern person, in chaos and disorder, and meanwhile, scientists recognize the presence of a certain system in the building. The Minoans did not always strictly follow the laws of architecture, creating structures that seemed impossible to build.
Now only the ruins, under which, perhaps, the labyrinth of the Minotaur is buried, remind of its former grandeur. Photos only partially convey the globality and thoughtfulness that the buildings of ancient civilizations were famous for.
The Palace of Knossos is located just five kilometers from modern Heraklion, and the area that it once occupied, measuring 75 hectares, is truly amazing in its size. In those distant times, more than 12 thousand people permanently lived in the palace - the same number inhabited Heraklion.
Legend of Atlantis
The ruins that currently excite the imagination of tourists are the ruins of the second palace. The very first was tentatively erected in 2000 BC. e. And about 1700 BC. e. a devastating earthquake hit the island, almost completely leveling the palace to the ground. However, in its place, the Minoans rebuilt an equally beautiful structure, and to this day it attracts millions of tourists like a magnet.
But the new Palace of Knossos was not destined to please its inhabitants for a long time. Not later than 1500 BC. e. The volcanic eruption on the island of Santorini caused a strong earthquake and a high tsunami, which led to the repeated destruction of the majestic structure.
What water failed, fire did. A fire in 1450 BC completely destroyed the palace. The reason for it is still unknown to this day. It is noteworthy that other significant monuments of the Minoan culture in Phaistos and Zakros were completely erased from the surface of the earth in the same way.
Most likely, humanity will never reliably know what led to the death of the Minoan civilization. As a result of numerous excavations carried out on the territory of the palace complex, no remains of people and animals were found. For some unknown reason, the inhabitants of Knossos left their homes. Where they went is also a mystery. All available theories are nothing more than the guesswork of scientists. Some of the researchers associate Crete with the myth of the disappeared Atlantis, but there is still no confirmation of this theory, nor its refutation.
Traces of past greatness
And in the place of the palace and in later periods, people always lived. However, the palace buildings were not completely destroyed and plundered. Perhaps the peasants were held back by fear of the mythical Minotaur, who once lived in the labyrinth of the palace. Therefore, when in 1878 the archaeologist Kalokerinos conducted the first excavations, he was surprised to find not only the well-preserved premises of the palace, but also many unique artifacts that looked as if they had not lain in the ground for millennia. But large-scale excavations of the palace began only in 1900, when the surrounding lands were bought by Arthur Evans, who forever entered the history of Crete.
The main architectural monument of Crete
The visit to the palace starts from the West Entrance. Many centuries ago, the main entrance to the palace was located here. Three huge pits immediately catch the eye, the purpose of which is still controversial among scientists. They believe that they were intended to store grain, others see them as a place for sacrifices and remember the labyrinth of the Minotaur.
Photos of these pits, however, look completely ordinary and do not cause sacred awe.
After passing the "Road of Processions", decorated with frescoes depicting young people making offerings to one of the goddesses, you can get to the Central Court, paved with huge slabs. It was here that various solemn ceremonies were held and mysterious rituals were performed.
The South House, which most likely belonged to the high priest, is perfectly preserved. Majestically look at the descendants of the Southern Propylaea, which housed the cult rooms of the palace. Climbing the stairs, you can see the Greek Temple - a building erected much later than the entire complex.
On the upper floor of the palace there is a three-columned sanctuary, a little further - a treasury that gave mankind many unique artifacts, and then a sanctuary with two and six columns. Giant pithoi - vessels for storing grain and olive oil as tall as a man, make an indelible impression on tourists. Wool, fabrics and other things especially valuable in those days were stored here.
The Fresco Hall and the Throne Room enjoy the most attention from tourists. Like millennia ago, the stone throne, in front of which there is a bowl for ablutions, attracts everyone's attention. Imagination draws how the priests, taking their places on the stone benches, heeded every word of their master. During the excavations, the famous Arthur Evans discovered a terrible mess in the Throne Room, uncharacteristic of other rooms, which gave him reason to believe that something terrible and tragic had happened in the hall ...
In the eastern wing, according to one version, there were living quarters of the royal family, megarons of the king and queen. To the west - the queen's bathroom and beauty room, a school and a craftsmen's workshop.
Stocks of provisions were stored in a warehouse in giant pithoi. The ancient builders did not forget about the perfectly functioning sewage system, its fragments still give an excellent idea of the perfection of the Minoan civilization. The area of the theater allowed the inhabitants of Knossos to gather for a performance and enjoy the wonderful performance.
Ablution pools are found throughout the palace complex, and later scientists began to doubt the truth of their purpose. However, even today they appear in guidebooks under this name.
Where is the monster's home hidden?
Curious tourists will not receive a reliable answer to only one question - where is the labyrinth of the Minotaur? Indeed, many tourists tend to Knossos, guided by an ancient myth and hoping to touch the legend.
But not a single person on the planet will say for sure what is the labyrinth of the Minotaur - myth or reality? Like any theory, this one also has its supporters and opponents. The red bull of the Western Bastion is clearly a reference to an old legend. Its adherents are not at all embarrassed by the fact that the last palace of Knossos was completed much later than the legend about this mysterious creature appeared. And despite the fact that the development of modern science allows you to see deep underground, the place where the labyrinth of the Minotaur is safely hidden in the depths has never been discovered. There is an opinion that it is formed by numerous caves in the mountains near Gortyna, their narrow dark corridors and incomprehensible branches make up a complex system of passages, which are almost impossible to get out of. Stories are passed from mouth to mouth about the lucky ones who allegedly saw unusual, unlike creatures in these caves.
Indirectly, the reality of the labyrinth is indicated by coins that were minted in the ancient city of Knossos and depict precisely this intricate structure.
Opponents of fairy theories deny the existence of the labyrinth of Daedalus, as the labyrinth of the Minotaur is called after its creator, and argue that the intricate layout of the Palace of Knossos, which can confuse anyone, is the real labyrinth. Other scientists share the opinion that the mysterious structure is just a double ax "labrys", which is the main weapon of the Minoans.
spiritual labyrinth
In many cultures, the labyrinth has a sacred meaning. You can move forward and find yourself in a dead end, take a step and find a way out, or vice versa, wander for a long time in the dark and forever wallow in problems and doubts. And then the inner Minotaur will destroy all the good and good that is in every person.
The labyrinth is the embodiment of the complexity of the eternal struggle with the dark forces, and the way out of it is evidence of the victory of good over evil.
Some researchers of the Minoan culture are inclined to the version that the legend of the labyrinth of the Minotaur is an encrypted message to the descendants, telling about the clash of two cultures - the Indo-European and the civilization of the peoples of the sea, worshiping the bull. The destruction of the Minotaur, half-bull, half-man, indicates the victory of the ancient civilization over the alien tribes.
But be that as it may, every year tens of thousands of tourists come to the island of Crete in the hope of finding a mysterious labyrinth. After it could not be found in Knossos, the geography of their searches expanded significantly and now covers the entire island.
Ania Mendrek tedbassman Ania Mendrek JB TorresMedina Juan Manuel Caicedo Carvajal William Allen Inside the Palace of Knossos (Steve Jurvetson) Max Froumentin Fresco of the Palace of Knossos (Juan Manuel Caicedo Carvajal) Fresco of the Palace of Knossos (Juan Manuel Caicedo Carvajal) Taurokatapsia, fresco from the Grand Palace of Knossos, Crete (George Groutas) Fresco with dolphins (Ania Mendrek) Ania Mendrek Ania Mendrek Ania Mendrek Palace of Knossos - North Entrance (Nelo Hotsuma) Giant pithoi (Ania Mendrek)
The culture of ancient Crete is covered with numerous myths and secrets. So the ancient Greeks believed that the island was the birthplace of the supreme god Zeus. Then the Thunderer gave the land to his son Minos, one of the most powerful rulers of antiquity. Here, according to legend, there was a labyrinth built by the order of Minos by the mythical builder Daedalus.
Knossos Palace (William Allen)
The real history of Crete was talked about only at the beginning of the 20th century, when sensational archaeological monuments and artifacts were discovered, as a result of which it became known about the existence of statehood that arose long before Ancient Greek.
In 1900, the British archaeologist Arthur Evans began excavations near Knossos. The very first penetrations into the cultural layer of the soil opened the eyes of researchers to evidence of the existence of settlements on these lands. And two weeks later, the remains of buildings that occupied an area of 2.5 hectares appeared before the eyes of scientists. Their outlines resembled a labyrinth.
The abundance of rooms and halls with many doors and a complex scheme of corridors, even in a ruined state, could confuse anyone. All this led a number of researchers to the idea that the found Knossos palace once belonged to the semi-mythical king Minos, the father of Ariadne and the owner of the terrible creature of the Minotaur.
Thus, a civilization was discovered, which in modern history has received the name "Cretan-Mycenaean".
Knossos Palace: architecture and interior decoration
Many who saw the Palace of Knossos with their own eyes claim that it is he who is the legendary labyrinth of the Minotaur, which came to life from myths.
Eyewitnesses are not embarrassed by the fact that the labyrinth in Crete was built much later than the myth itself was born. And this is no coincidence, the impressive architecture and scale of the building suggest this idea.
Inside the Palace of Knossos (Steve Jurvetson)
The palace of Knossos was larger than the Vatican and Versailles. Built on a solid foundation, the building had a complex system of passages.
The palace was a kind of building-state with various multi-level buildings connected by countless stairs and passages.
There were several courtyards and buildings, a theater and the summer residence of the king, temples, warehouses and even internal gardens. With all this diversity, the Palace of Knossos was not a chaotic heap, but had a clearly conceived architectural plan, which has no other analogues in the world.
The palace of Knossos was distinguished by its magnificent decoration with artistic painting and frescoes with a complex composition. Artifacts found during excavations testify to the luxury of the furnishings.
So fragments of furniture and elements of decoration have survived to our time: golden vases and lamps, gilded figurines of the gods. Armor inlaid with precious stones was found in the storerooms. In the rooms - women's jewelry.
The surviving wall paintings give an idea of the values and ideals of a bygone civilization. Here you can find the ideas of the Minoans about the universe and the gods. In addition, wall scenes made it possible to establish the material culture of a bygone civilization: traditional clothes, household items, occupation, etc.
Fresco with dolphins (Ania Mendrek)
Why was the palace of Knossos destroyed?
There is no exact information about the "death" of the Palace of Knossos. There is a version that it was destroyed during an earthquake and was abandoned by people.
It is also possible that he was buried under the action of volcanic lava that covered him during a volcanic eruption, as evidenced by the corpses of people and animals found during excavations.
And a completely mythical version - the inhabitants of Knossos are representatives of Atlantis.
The myth of Theseus and the Minotaur
One of the famous ancient Greek myths says that once upon a time a terrible creature lived on the island of Crete - the minotaur - a monster with a human body and a bull's head.
It was the fruit of a vicious connection between the wife of the Cretan ruler Minos Pasiphae and a bull. To hide the traces of infidelity of his wife, Minos ordered Daedalus to build a labyrinth, in which he placed the monster.
After the son of Minos Androgey, the angry ruler of Crete, died at the competitions in Athens, he demanded a terrible tribute from the Athenians - every 9 years, 7 girls and 7 boys arrived on the island by ship. All of them, as a sign of punishment, went to the labyrinth, where they either died, unable to get out of the labyrinth, or were torn apart by a ferocious monster guarding the underground possessions.
The third terrible tribute from Athens was taken to the island of Crete and the son of the ruler of Athens - Theseus. The young man begged his father Aegeus to let him go along with the young people in the hope of defeating the monster and breaking the chain of terrible tribute. So, under black sails - a symbol of mourning - another group of terrible sacrifices set off. However, Theseus assured his father that he would return alive and announce his victory with white sails.
According to the myth, the beautiful Ariadne, the daughter of the ruler of Crete, fell in love with Theseus. To save her lover, she came up with a cunning plan - secretly gave him a knife to kill the Minotaur and a ball of thread, through which the hero and his companions could get out of the labyrinth.
The plan was a success - the monster was defeated, and the young people went to their homeland. Ariadne followed her lover. However, Theseus was forced to abandon the girl, because she was destined to be the wife of the god Dionysus.
Saddened by separation, the young man forgot to change the sails, and the ship entered the harbor of Athens under a black banner. Seeing this, Aegeus, distraught with grief, thinking that his son was dead, threw himself off a cliff into the sea. Since then, it has become known as the Aegean.
Minotaur Labyrinth: Fiction and Truth
The emergence of the legend of the Minotaur has a historical basis. In Crete, the cult of the bull has been revered since ancient times. It was believed that he ruled the underworld and in anger shook the earthly firmament, causing it to oscillate. This is how the islanders explained private earthquakes.
Knossos Palace - North Entrance (Nelo Hotsuma)
The island of Crete, which is of volcanic origin, was constantly subjected to earth tremors. Numerous finds of ceramics, images on walls and frescoes, where the main character is a bull, also speak in favor of this version. To appease the wrath of the underground god, the Cretans offered him human sacrifices. So there is information about the existence in the ancient Cretan cult ritual - a dance with bulls.
Tauropols - girls and boys who underwent special training - participated in this sacred ceremony. Their whole life was devoted to mastering the sacred dance, so that at the age of 14-15 they would be sacrificed to the underground god during the bloody "fun" with the bulls.
At the same time, the Cretans identified the labyrinth with the path of life - there is a beginning and an end, their own roads, choice of direction and dead ends. In addition, the labyrinth was a symbol of the struggle of light forces with dark principles.
Thus, the labyrinth was covered with a kind of sacred meaning. It is no coincidence that the Cretan builders equipped all the temples in the likeness of a labyrinth.
Frescoes in the Palace of Knossos
The frescoes of the Palace of Knossos with graceful drawings of the Minoan culture picturesquely decorate the walls. The main colors used by ancient decorative artists are turquoise, orange, black and bright red.
Fresco of the Palace of Knossos (Juan Manuel Caicedo Carvajal)
Many frescoes with images of girls who jump over a bull, beautiful young men, the “Prince with a Lily”, “Rhyton Bearer” are skillfully and detailed.
Unfortunately, tourists are not allowed to many rooms with beautiful images. The throne room is decorated with paintings in red and white shades, with painted graceful vultures guarding the throne of the ruler of Knossos. The walls of the rooms above the throne room are decorated with copies of found frescoes (the "Hall of Frescoes") with beautiful images of "Blue Bird", "Lady in Blue", "Blue Monkey", "Saffron Collector", "Playing with Bulls" and many others. The original frescoes are kept in the Heraklion Museum.
Of particular interest is the megaron of the Queen of Knossos. Parts of a clay bath were found in the bath. The image of a labros periodically appears on the walls of the palace - this is a sign of a labyrinth, which once again suggests that the Palace of Knossos is the secret labyrinth of the Minotaur from the myths of Ancient Greece.
Knossos Palace - the main tourist attraction of Crete
The similarity of the Knossos palace to a labyrinth has made it the most popular archaeological site among tourists. In all guidebooks, its second name is noted - “The Labyrinth of the Minotaur”.
There is also a legend that the real labyrinth built for the Minotaur is hidden under the mountains. It is an extensive network of bizarre caves and outlines. Locals claim that strange creatures still live in it to this day.
The attractiveness of the Palace of Knossos also lies in the fact that even during the excavations, work was carried out in parallel to restore it. Thus, not just ruins appear before tourists, but reconstructed premises of the “labyrinth”. But at the same time, the restoration work carried out does not allow an ordinary tourist to determine where the real remains of the palace are, and where is just an interpretation.
Where is the Palace of Knossos?
The Palace of Knossos is located near the Cretan capital of Heraklion. Buses run constantly towards the palace. Thus, the way to the main attraction of the island takes quite a bit of time.
Cost of visiting the Labyrinth of the Minotaur
A visit to the "maze" for adults will cost 6 euros, for children - 3 euros. The museum-palace is open all year round. During the tourist peak - from July to October - it is open from 8 to 19 hours. The rest of the time - from 8 to 15. Near the palace there are numerous souvenir shops where everyone can buy a memorable gift.
Tips: how to save money on excursions to the Palace of Knossos?
The palace of Knossos stands serenely, literally on the outskirts of the capital of Crete, Heraklion. Only 4 kilometers from magnificent beaches and a popular recreation area, so getting here is quite easy.
Juan Manuel Caicedo Carvajal
When purchasing a guided tour to the Palace of Knossos, you can overpay 3-5 times, the average price from a tour operator is 50 euros, from a street guide - 35 euros. Note that the entrance to the museum complex itself is not included in the price of the tour offer.
But there are also positive aspects here - a comfortable bus and a competent guide.
For those who want to visit the museum complex on their own and save money, they can use the public bus. Every 10-15 minutes buses leave from the Heraklion bus station and the Astoria hotel (bus number 2) to the Palace of Knossos. The trip does not last long - about 20 minutes.
There are differences between the buses: green buses are intercity buses, blue buses are city buses. For a trip to the Palace of Knossos, a blue bus leaves, costing 1.5 euros one way (final stop). The bus ticket must be bought from the vending machine located at the bus stop.
For those who rented a car, there is free parking near the palace complex and many signs on how to get there, which, however, are not required, because. almost all rental cars in Crete are equipped with navigators with maps of the island's attractions.
Cost of visiting
The cost of visiting the palace complex is 6 euros, children under 5 years old - free of charge, preferential categories, children 5-12 years old - 3 euros. We advise you to purchase a "double ticket" at a price of 10 euros for an adult, which is also a ticket to the informative and interesting Heraklion Archaeological Museum (children under 5 years old also have free admission).
Best time to visit
A visit to the Palace of Knossos during the largest tourist months (from April to October) is possible from 8-00 to 19-00 on weekdays (on weekends entry until 15-00); and from March to November from 8:00 to 15:00. Crowds of tourists can be avoided if you visit the palace complex in the morning or closer to the closing of the museum. An hour or two to visit the museum complex is enough.
Free entry
Like many Greek museums and the Acropolis, Crete has special days for tourists, where entry to many museum complexes is free. This also applies to visiting the Palace of Knossos. So, these are the days - May 18, June 5, August 15, September 27 and the last weekend of September.
Before the trip, it is advisable to prepare and study the map of the Palace complex. The palace of Knossos is located on a hilltop, so it is almost constantly blown by hot wind and open to the hot rays of the sun. You must wear hats and take drinking water. Souvenir products are still better to buy in Heraklion, where they will cost several times cheaper.
The oldest known labyrinth is the Cretan Labyrinth. The seven path rings are easy to create by drawing a cross and four dots, and then combining them to form eight circles with the same center, resulting in seven empty rings between them. This is a fascinating figure that has been impressing all mankind for 5000 years and left in the history of civilization.
The special significance of the Labyrinth in Crete comes from the legendary Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. The Minotaur was born half man and half bull, and remained imprisoned in the labyrinth designed by Daedalus for the Cretan king Minos. Athens lost the war with Crete and as a tribute were forced to send seven young men and seven girls as a sacrifice to the Minotaur. Theseus, the son of the Athenian king, volunteered to be one of the team to kill the Minotaur and free Athens from Cretan domination. The daughter of King Minos, Ariadne, gave him a ball of thread so that he would unravel it while passing through the labyrinth, thus giving him the opportunity to remember the path and, after the completed action, find the way back. Theseus entered the labyrinth, killed the Minotaur and fled from Crete, taking Ariadne with him.
This is one of the most important Greek myths. It has been maintained by history for centuries among many labyrinths around the world. In the third millennium BC, we find the image of the labyrinth on the fragments of ceramics and engraved on the rocks. Sixteen centuries later, the labyrinth remains central to Cretan culture, appearing on Cretan coins until the first century BC. This is followed by mosaic icons from the time of the Roman Empire. During the spread of Christianity, the church adopted the image of the labyrinth as symbolism, ritual and repentance. There are thousands of stone labyrinths from medieval times that are scattered along the Baltic coast and in many other European countries. The illustration of the labyrinth appears in the engravings and maps of Crete from the 15th to the 19th century, when Crete was a major tourist destination thanks to the myth of the labyrinth. During the Renaissance and Victorian era, many mazes appeared from dense overgrown bushes. Until 1917 the banks of Crete printed paper money with the labyrinth symbol!
There are two types of labyrinth. A complex form of a labyrinth, which consists of many intersecting paths, a whole puzzle with branches with a choice of path and direction (Maze) and the Cretan labyrinth, where there is only one road without intersections, which constantly changes direction. Consists of several slanting paths, and its center is circled seven times, so that the visitor repeatedly passes the destination. The road leads necessarily to the center, from where the visitor must follow the same route back to the exit. This labyrinth is associated with the Labyrinth of Minos - although both logic and literary descriptions make it clear that the Minotaur was trapped in a complex branching maze.
Today, the Cretan labyrinth is a combination of myth, symbol and allegory.
The seven circles correspond to the seven spheres of the sacred planets, the seven principles of man and the universe, the seven days of the week, the seven times, and other similar concepts. The intricate pattern also represents the circulation of vital energy in our body, points to the convolutions of the brain and intestines - the two poles of our body that correspond to our consciousness and our physical condition.
Passing through the center of the labyrinth and returning back represents a journey into the center of our own being, a metaphor for the journey of life and, ultimately, an understanding of who we are.
In 1900, on March 23, ruins were found on the island of Crete after thirty years of excavations. Scientists have suggested that they have found the mythological Labyrinth of the Minotaur.
According to Arthur John Evans, who led the excavations, near the city of Knossos, real ruins of the mythological Labyrinth were found - the one where the Minotaur lived and where the daughter of King Minos Ariadne brought Theseus.
Every myth has a grain of truth. But did Arthur John Evans really find the labyrinth? We will try to figure this out.
mythical labyrinth
The image of the terrible Minotaur, half-bull, half-man, is known to us from ancient Greek mythology. According to legend, the Minotaur was the fruit of the unnatural love of the Cretan queen Pasiphae, the wife of King Minos, for a sacrificial white bull sent by Poseidon (or Zeus, depending on the source) for sacrifice. According to some sources, Aphrodite sent a feeling for the bull to Pasiphae because the queen did not revere the goddess. And someone believes that Pasiphae suffered from dementia or even mental retardation.
All versions agree on one thing: the queen had a child with a bull's head. King Minos, in order to hide the shame of his wife, ordered the sculptor Daedalus to build a huge labyrinth in which the Minotaur was placed, after which they began to sacrifice young people to him.
Mosaic from Pompeii in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples. Wikipedia photo archive The hero Theseus, with whom the half-sister of the Minotaur, Ariadne, fell in love, defeated the monster and emerged from the terrible labyrinth safe and sound. Yes, and saved the girls and boys.
Looking for facts
Many who saw the Palace of Knossos with their own eyes believe that the building was the same Labyrinth: it is a cluster of many rooms and halls. However, the Palace of Knossos was built much later than the Labyrinth described in the myth, and adherents of the theory of the existence of the refuge of the Minotaur believe that the real Labyrinth is hidden in the mountains near Knossos.
But wasn't the ancient myth taken too literally?
Doubts about the reality, if not the Labyrinth, then the monsters from the myth existed in antiquity. So, the ancient Roman biographer and philosopher Plutarch suggested that the image of the Minotaur was exaggerated, but in reality it was a real person named Minos Taurus - a fighter who participated in demonstration fights in the Labyrinth.
Mosaic "Theseus killing the Minotaur in the labyrinth", Paphos, Cyprus. Photo archive: Wikipedia Not everything is clear with the Labyrinth itself. Ancient people believed that the labyrinth is a haven of the gods, life is a road through the halls and rooms of a mythical structure, a dead end is death, and the exit is a victory over death. Then the theory that the Labyrinth is a symbol may seem more realistic. Then the real Theseus, if he existed, could simply stay alive after some kind of mortal danger, and the real story about this turned into a myth about leaving the Labyrinth.
The Labyrinth found in Crete is neither the first nor the last labyrinth in the world. It is believed that the first structure was built in Egypt. Ancient Greek historians Herodotus of Halicarnassus and Strabo wrote about this. According to the scriptures, the Labyrinth was located in the city of El Faiyum and was built by Pharaoh Amenemhat III. The labyrinth led to the pyramid, which supposedly contained the tomb of the pharaoh. The construction itself, according to historians, represented more than a thousand rooms. We also emphasize that the Cretan Labyrinth was a hundred times smaller than the Egyptian one, but the design was more complex.
In Search of the Labyrinth
Many of our rational contemporaries believe that today the Cretan Labyrinth has not been found. Perhaps in the future there will be other evidence of the existence of the legendary structure. Or maybe the Labyrinth is a metaphor, a symbol, passed down to us by our ancestors through a famous myth.
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Minotaur - a monster from Crete, the main opponent of Theseus. Described as a man with a bull's head, lived in an intricate labyrinth. Killed by Theseus.
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The legend of the origin of the Minotaur
Greek legends described him as a monster of great stature, with the body of an athlete and a bull's head. His mother was Pasiphae (not to be confused with Pasithea), daughter of the sun god Helios and queen of Crete, wife of Minos. Minos ascended the throne only by defeating his brother with the blessing of the gods. In order for Minos to confirm his noble intentions and become a pious king, Poseidon sent him a magnificent bull and ordered the animal to be sacrificed.
Minos felt sorry for killing such a wonderful creature, and he released the bull to graze along with the herd, and instead killed another, ordinary one. Poseidon became angry and inspired Pasiphae with an unnatural attraction to the bull. According to some sources, Poseidon himself (in a number of myths - Zeus) turned into a bull in order to copulate with the queen. To do this, the Athenian engineer Daedalus came up with an ingenious design in the form of a bronze cow attractive to a bull. It was hollow on the inside, and Pasiphae was in it.
After the due date, the queen gave birth to a monster. The Minotaur, by order of Minos, was hidden in the labyrinth of Daedalus - Knossos. The Minotaur was fed by criminals and Athenian youths and girls - they were brought in every nine years, seven males and seven females. In some myths, seven children were sacrificed to the Minotaur.
Pausanias wrote that the real name of the Minotaur was Asterius, i.e. "starry". Antique vases with images of this beast almost always contain images of stars or eyes. Mycenaean texts also contain references to a certain mistress of the labyrinth, which could probably be Ariadne.
Minotaur and Theseus
Diodorus writes that Theseus sailed in the second party, and Plutarch claimed that in the third. But it is known for sure that the hero was among the victims of the Minotaur after he killed him. According to some sources, to reduce the resistance of the captives, they were deprived of their sight. According to others, it was impossible to leave the intricate labyrinth, and those who escaped death at the hands of the Minotaur simply died without water and food.
Theseus was among the fourteen victims. Together with the others, he was launched into the labyrinth, where he fought the Minotaur and killed him with his bare hands. Sometimes it is indicated that the hero had a sword with him.
Ariadne (half-sister of the Minotaur, but daughter of Minos) gave him a ball of thread with her, which Theseus unwound all the way. As a result, he and the rest of the captives left the labyrinth unharmed. The throne at Amykla contains an image of a captive Minotaur led by Theseus on a rope.
Rationalist version of the legend of the Minotaur
Philochor, and after it Eusebius in their writings they described a different version of the origin of the Minotaur, in which the bull-headed monster acts as an allegory. According to legend, the Minotaur was a man, his name was Taurus. He taught the young king of Crete - Minos, and became famous for his cruelty. At that time, Athens was under the rule of Crete and paid tribute by people. Minos decided to establish a competition in which his teacher fought with sent Athenian youths. Taurus defeated nine, but Theseus, the son of the Athenian king, defeated him. In honor of the victory, Athens was exempted from paying tribute.
The labyrinth at Knossos and the myth of the Minotaur
Also Daedalus' Labyrinth, according to Plutarch was the most ordinary prison. Ordinary prisoners were housed within its walls, and in very tolerable conditions. Minos annually held competitions in honor of Androgeus, his son, who was killed by the Athenians. The winner received as slaves boys and girls sent from Athens. Before that, they were kept in the Labyrinth. Taurus enjoyed the great confidence of Minos and was the first winner of the competition. Taurus was known as a rude and hard-hearted master, merciless with slaves. Aristotle's "State Structure of Bottia" clearly expresses the author's idea that it was simply unprofitable to kill the sent people - young people were highly valued in the slave market. They most likely remained slaves in Crete until the end of their days.
Historian Demon believed that Taurus was a commander whose fleet engaged in battle with the fleet of Theseus in the harbor and was defeated. Taurus died in this battle. Plutarch wrote that Taurus was a general killed in the war between Crete and Athens. The later story of the Minotaur is the fruit of human invention and myth-making.
Other hypotheses and the cult of bulls
Minotaur could be borrowed Phoenician god under the name . Moloch was depicted as a horned man, and children were sacrificed to him. The famous expression "hell of fire" came from the place where human sacrifices were made to Moloch - the children were "guided through the fire", that is, they were burned alive. The cult of Moloch could very well be in Crete. The death of the Minotaur marked the end of this cult.
A number of modern historians consider the history of the Minotaur to be an allegorical story about the collision of the Indo-Europeans with the cultures of the autochthonous "peoples of the sea". These "sea peoples" of unknown origin revered bulls. The clash was won by the more civilized Indo-Europeans in the modern sense. Also, the appearance of the Minotaur is suggestive of the beast-headed Egyptian gods.
Theseus, a novel by Mary Renault, contains a description of ritual sacrifices. They were called "bull belts" - a kind of protocorrida. Scenes with bull belts are often found on the frescoes of the Cretan period. Artistic materials of the Minoan era contain images of taurocatapsia - ritual jumps over a bull. The cult of the worship of the bull was very strong in Crete, and such rituals were a significant part of it.
A similar theme can be traced back to the Bronze Age, from where it migrated to the Hittite kingdom, Syria, Bactria and the Indus Valley. Bullfighting and bull veneration are common in Mediterranean cultures. Today, this phenomenon has survived as a Spanish bullfight.
The double-edged ax of the executioner - "labrys", was an integral part of the bull cult. Probably, "labyrinth" is a modified "labrys". Pre-Hellenic religions often practiced sacred bullfights, and Cretan demonology contains quite a few bull-headed people. The minotaur living in the heart of the labyrinth was most likely a cruel legend, an echo of the even more terrifying rituals of Crete. The most ancient forms of the legend of Theseus and the Minotaur say that the hero defeated the monster with a double-edged axe.
Today, along with the twelve labors of Hercules, the legend of the Minotaur remains one of the most recognizable. It is difficult to say exactly what she is talking about - about the ancient cult of the bulls, the traditional competitions of slaves, or the monster that lived in the labyrinth of Daedalus. However, this is not the only mystery left to the descendants of the myths of ancient Greece.
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