...The legend of King Minos takes place in Ancient Greece, on the island of Crete. In this legend, a beast with the head of a bull and the body of a man, called a Minotaur, roams a labyrinth and eats those who enter. King Minos reigned on Crete after the King of Athens killed his son. Minos demanded every nine years, seven young men and seven young women from Athens would go to the palace at Knossos. The young people would go into the labyrinth to be eaten by the Minotaur. One of the people sent into the Labyrinth was a young man named Theseus. He was in love with the daughter of Minos, Ariadne. She gave him a spool of thread so he would be able to retrace his steps and make it safely out of the Labyrinth. Theseus did just that, and killed the...
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...Absolutely! He helped to keep the city of Athens under King Minos’s control. King Minos wasn’t going to let him out of the labyrinth, even if Athens was no longer a threat. The Minotaur was a political weapon. King Minos was the type of person that would use the Minotaur as an instrument of terror and intimidation. This leads me to a question. Why would Poseidon give King Minos, in essence, a very powerful weapon for disobeying him? This part of the myth threw me for a loop. In Greek mythology, the gods are flawed, constantly holding petty grudges. Poseidon was a god, which makes guessing his intentions very difficult to guess but, I will give it a shot. One possibility is Poseidon knew that the gift of the Minotaur to King Minos, Would eventually lead to Perseus. Perseus would then destroy the Minotaur. These actions freeing Athens, from the oppression of the despicable King Minos and destroying the power of Crete as a nation. Another possibility, Is that Poseidon was showing all the neighboring countries just how powerful he was. After all Greek gods were very arrogant and absolutely loved to show how much more powerful they were than regular human beings. I like to believe the gift of the Minotaur to King Minos by Poseidon was a curse in the form of a gift. It is undeniable the Minotaur made King Minos a target to other nations, especially to the Athenians. By having the Athenians hand over 14 virgins every nine years, it was only...
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...connected with the real life. The society creates its own myths to explain different aspects of the world, but some people also use myths to control the social misunderstanding and diversely thinking level. An example of this kind of usage can be found in the history and mythology of ancient Greek civilization. One of the most known and popular myths of Ancient Greece is the Myth of Minotaur who is believed to have bull head and human body. He lived on the island Crete, near the Heraklion city. He is highly associated with the Labyrinth, in which he was thrown by Minos. Each year Minos gifted him 7 young men and women for eating. With the help of this myth, Greek people tried to explain the mystic disappearances of the people who strayed in the chains of hills of Crete. On the other hand, the governors of the period used the myth to threaten the society. It is interesting to note, that Minos, was a real governor. He enhanced the power of belief in that myth by ordering Daedalus to construct a real Labyrinth, moreover, the priests put on heads of bulls and appeared near the Labyrinth, to somehow prove the existence of that creature. To conclude, a single myth can have various functions and be used for both explanation and governing purposes. References...
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...Tim O’Donnell Upon Curious Wings When my good friend, Joe, first showed me the film Sunshine, I was captivated by it. I was originally entertained solely by its epic nature, considering it centered on the immensely powerful force that is our Sun. But recently I began to understand how deep and numerous the screenplay’s intricacies were. One most certainly being that the name of the ships that are sent to the Sun in the film is more than just a novelty. Their designated names, Icarus I and II, assist in reflecting an overall message of power hunger and the danger of curiosity. Icarus is a commonly known character in Greek mythology. King Minos exiled him and his father, Daedalus, after Daedalus gave the king’s daughter, Ariadne, a clue in order to help Theseus, the enemy of Minos, survive the Labyrinth and defeat the Minotaur. In attempt to escape their prison on Crete, Daedalus, a fine craftsman, fashions two sets of wings for himself and Icarus out of wax and feathers. Daedalus warns Icarus that they must fly low and short lived in order to preserve the structural integrity of the wax wings from the Sun’s rays. Once in flight, Icarus becomes engrossed by the thrilling experience. Curiosity begins to take hold of his mind and he tests the Fates by flying higher and higher as he gets more invigorated. But, clearly forgetting his father’s forewarning, Icarus fails to take note of his wax wings melting apart and falls to his death in the sea below. Another take by some Hellenistic...
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...Dante's threats into a song, " [A]pologise, pull out his eyes, pull out his eyes, apologise." Singing is more than just language, however—it is language transformed by vibrant humanity. Indeed, music appeals to the part of Stephen that wants to live life to the fullest. We see this aspect of music near the end of the novel, when Stephen suddenly feels at peace upon hearing a woman singing. Her voice prompts him to recall his resolution to leave Ireland and become a writer, reinforcing his determination to celebrate life through writing. Flight Stephen Dedalus's very name embodies the idea of flight. Stephen's namesake, Daedalus, is a figure from Greek mythology, a renowned craftsman who designs the famed Labyrinth of Crete for King Minos. Minos keeps Daedalus and his son Icarus imprisoned on Crete, but Daedalus makes plans to escape by using feathers, twine, and wax to fashion a set of wings for himself and his son. Daedalus escapes successfully, but Icarus flies too high. The sun's heat melts the wax holding Icarus's wings together, and he plummets to his death in the sea. In the context of Portrait Of A Artist As A Young Man we can see Stephen as representative of both Daedalus and Icarus, as Stephen's father also has the last name of Dedalus. With this mythological reference, Joyce implies that Stephen must always balance his desire to flee Ireland with the danger of overestimating his own abilities—the intellectual equivalent of Icarus's flight too close to the sun. To...
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...around what seems to be a strong and graceful bull. The painting has been named the ‘taurokatharpsia’ translated as bull games. The bull symbolized power, male fertility and strength all attributes that have been associated with King Minos a famous ruler of Knossos and step father to the monstrous Minotaur. This piece of artwork supports claims that the bull was a sacred animal for the Minoans as evidenced by other artefacts found at the site. Rituals and religious ceremonies were celebrated in honour of the Bull and they were considered important enough to offer as a sacrifice to the Gods. The relationship between the bull and humans is explored as it could be assumed that to be able to triumph over a bull showed great skill and power on behalf of the boys shown in the artwork. The beautiful wall painting found at the Palace at Knossos gives some insight into who were the Minoans. The wall painting dates back to the Postpalatial period and it depicts young boys playing and preforming acrobatic movements around what seems to be a strong and graceful bull. The painting has been named the ‘taurokatharpsia’ translated as bull games. The bull symbolized power, male fertility and strength all attributes that have been associated with King Minos a famous ruler of Knossos and step father to the monstrous Minotaur. This piece of artwork supports claims that the bull was a sacred animal for the Minoans as evidenced by other artefacts found at the site. Rituals and religious ceremonies...
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...Thesis: In Pure, Ellery Willux bears a comparison to Daedalus from Greek mythology. Skidmore, Joel. "Daedalus." San Francisco : 1993. http://www.mythweb.com/encyc/entries/daedalus.html This source explains the history and reputation of Daedalus. He is a very wise craftsman who is known for his construction of the Labyrinth in Crete. The article discusses his poor relationship with King MInos of Crete and shows examples of how the King had much ingratitude toward Daedalus even after he built the Labyrinth. After the King locked up Daedalus in a one of his own architectural accomplishments, the king made sure to have him carful guarded as Daedalus being the creator of this prison know the passages of escape. After realizing it would not be possible to escape within in the prison, Daedalus began to construct a set of wings after being inspired by the sets of birds that flew by the window of his cell. once complete, and Daedalus at this point was imprisoned with his son, the two used the feathers to escape and soared out of the prison. “Builder of the Labyrinth for King Minos of Crete. Daedalus was a renowned craftsman and inventor.” (Skidmore 1993) As Ellery Willux is in Pure, This quote shows Daedadlus’s roles in society. His architectural skills gave his a place in the community and continued to create fame for him with the Kings and counsels. The labyrinth was a historical landmark and an important mythical aspect during this time. “To judge by Icarus's...
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...Minoan and Mycenaeans- Dark ages and recorvery 18th-12th BCE September 12 2012 Minoan Civilization * 1700-1450 BCE (Ancient Crete) * Arthur Evans excavated in early 20th century * Named after King Minos (had a minotaur child because his wife cheated) * Palace has a lot labyrinths (agglutinative architecture) * Semi-destroyed due to earthquakes * Not really sure how Crete was colonized (speculated that people stopped for supplies but instead stayed) * Most of the labyrinths were for storing items * speculated that early Crete was a place for trading and economy * Tablets that were deciphered very little but indicated currency or a trading basis * stored in giant pots called pithoi or pithos * Government formed around a king and a redistributive Economy * King receives the fruits of the labor (ex. Wheat from farming) and stores it in a safe room and later distributes equally among the people * Tablets kept track of what was in the safe rooms * Many paintings (Frescoes) indicated a peaceful looking people (no armor and weapons) and connection to nature (lots of sea imagery since Crete is on an island as well as a sport called bull hopping) * Palace did not have a defensive wall because they had no expectations of enemies attacking Mycenaeans * 1600-1100 BCE * Discovered by Heinreich and Sophia Schlieman by studying Homer’s Odyssey (also uncovered Trojan ruins) * Invaded the Minoans and decimated most...
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...Cerberus is a three headed guard dog who resides in the third circle of Hell, home to the gluttonous sinners. Dante describes Cerberus as a “fierce and monstrous beast, barks from three gullets like a dog over the people underneath that muck. His eyes are red, his beard a greasy black, his belly swollen.” (Inf. VI 13-17). Dante’s description of Cerberus is more comparable to a scary dog than a demonic guardian. Dante is becoming desensitized to the demons who inhabit the various circles of Hell. He does not describe Cerberus as harshly or frightening as he did for Charon and Minos. The two previous demons had some human qualities but Cerberus is three-headed dog. Also unlike the other demons, Cerberus does not speak to Dante or Virgil. He simply growls and snarls. Additionally, Cerberus was easier to manipulate than the other guardians in the previous cantos. Virgil’s does not even speak to Cerberus in order to pass by him. Virgil throws dirt at the gluttonous dog who viciously eats it and becomes distracted from the two travellers who were able to continue on with their...
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...The Myth of Daedalus and Icarus Summary: The Myth of Daedalus and Icarus is one of the most well-known Greek myths today. Daedalus was a well-known and respected Athenian architect, sculptor, and inventor. He created the plan for the Minoan Palace of Knossos, an important archaeological site today. He also designed the Labyrinth, a maze so complex that no one could escape it. King Minos of Crete had Daedalus build the Labyrinth to contain the Minotaur. The Minotaur was a monster with the body of the man and the head of a bull, who lived in the Labyrinth and fed on humans. The King of Athens (King Theseus) had to send tributes to King Minos, and then would be sent into the Labyrinth and sacrificed to the Minotaur in memory of his dead son Androgenos....
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...killed lion Theseus - Kills serial killers like they kill people (major theme) 1st – Kills him with a club PERIPHETES 2nd – Ties his feet to a tree and lets it go – tears apart people’s legs SINIS 3rd – Killed the Crommyonian Sow 4th – Pushed him off a cliff to the sea SCIRON 5th – Wrestling CERCYON 6th – Ties him to a moving bed, if too big, chops off body parts to make it fit PROCRUSTES Minotaur - King Minos asked Poseidon for a snow white bull + kill it to show respect to Poseidon - Minos wanted to keep it because of its beauty and to sacrifice another bull - Poseidon enraged - Made King Minos’ wife fall in love with the bull - Wife asks famous craftsman to make a wooden hollow cow - Offspring = Minotaur - King Minos asked craftsman to build a labyrinth for the Minotaur = man-eating creature - King Minos’ son winning Panathena games in honour of Athena -> jealousy -> kill him - War between King Minos & Athens -> treaty -> 7 boys and 7 girls to be sent each year in the labyrinth so the Minotaur would be fed - Theseus volunteers - King Minos’ daughter falls in love with him and gives him a tread so he finds his way back - He kills the Minotaur and finds his way back - Some versions: goes back to Athens with the king’s daughter / others: she didn’t follow him -...
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...The Beasts and Monsters in Dante's Inferno The Inferno is the first section of Dante's three-part poem, The Divine Comedy. Throughout Dante's epic journey into the depths of Inferno he encounters thirty monsters and five hybrid creatures. The most significant of these monsters are of central importance to his journey and to the narrative, as they not only challenge Dante's presence in Inferno, but are custodians of Hell, keeping in order or guarding the "perduta gente". In this essay I am concentrating on these prominent beasts, namely Minos, Cerberus, Plutus and Geryon, establishing why they feature in Dante's eschatological vision and discussing the sources which influenced his inclusion of these particular creatures. These four monsters all fulfil important functions as well as representing important themes in Inferno, establishing them as symbols which reinforce Dante's allegory. Minos, as the infernal judge and agent of God's justice, represents our own conscience and morality. When the sinners come before him "tutta si confessa", which causes the reader to reflect on their own sins.His terrifying treatment of the souls is significant as after Charon, he is one of the first figures who they encounter on their passage into Hell, and his unique method of demonstrating which area of Hell that the souls should be sent to increases the horror and adds to the alarming atmosphere. His warning to Dante, is similar to several of the infernal custodians, who continually remind...
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...Soon Theseus found out that Athens was facing a great tragedy. For the past couple of decades, Aegeus had been paying a barbarous tribute to King Minos of Crete after he had been defeated in a long-running war, launched by the Cretans to avenge the murder of Androgens the younger son of the Cretan king, by the Athenians. The tribute consisted of seven boys and seven maidens from the noblest families of Athens to be sent every nine years to Crete to be devoured by Minotaur the fearful half man half bull, who lived in the Labyrinth, an impressive constructer with crossed paths from which no man could escape. The tribute consisted of seven boys and seven maidens from the noblest families of Athens to be sent at every year to Crete to be devoured by Minotaur, the fearful half-man half-beast, who lived in the Labyrinth, an impressive construction with crossed paths from which no man could escape...
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...blinds them wit no hope. It is odd that Alighieri put Virgil, Homer and anyone else who came before ‘God’ in this circle. In the second circle, those considered lustful and wanton are constantly blown about like leaves in the wind. This is an apt punishment because these particular sinners let their uncontrolled emotions rule their judgment, therefore they will never settle. In the second circle, we meet a monster called Minos. He is the son of Zeus and Europa and had been a King of Crete while in the world of the living. It is said of Minos that “His terrifying treatment of the souls is significant as after Charon, he is one of the first figures who they encounter on their passage into hell, and his unique method of demonstrating which area of hell that the souls should be sent to increases the horror and adds to the alarming atmosphere”(Source 1). This is said in reference to Minos wrapping his tail around the soul. Each loop around is one circle further into hell that soul must venture into and endure. However Minos is more than a bouncer for hell. Minos, as the infernal judge and agent of Gods justice, represents our own conscience and morality. In circle three the readers view...
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...strange markings; it was not normal Greek language on coin and coin wasn’t wedge shape. Evans asked where she got it, she repeats “Minos” a lot to him; actually, she meant “The Legend of King Minos”: the wife had bestiality with a bull, people sent people as sacrifices. Legendary King Mino was minotaur. In 1893, Evans began his journey to search of the legendary kingdom of Minos. He went to largest island, Crete, in Mediterranean Sea with couple 1,000 men. He went and paid with own money to search for kingdom of Minos because Evans was very rich. Once he dis, he was arrested with the men because Crete was owned by Turkish empire, Ottoman Turks; they were on foreign soil. He was on his own, not with his country since he paid for the trip himself); he bought his way out of prison by purchasing North East section of the island of Crete. In 1899, he continued the actual dig and spent about 40 years there. Finally, he discovered oldest Greek and European civilizations: “Minoans”. In1936, he wrote a book with 4 volumes. The achievements and characteristics of Minoan civilization were: there were over 250 rooms, littered with palaces. The society of palaces was a very urban society dotted the country side. There was legendary palace and maze where the bull from story roamed. Its capital city was Knossus which was the biggest city, palace of King Minos. It had 7-12 major palaces. There were no walls like Indus River Valley then no fear of war or foreign attack. It was urban area...
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