In the Greek Mythology, Minos (in Greek old Μίνως / Mínôs ), wire of Zeus and Europe (the girl of Agénor), is a legendary king of Crete. Its name was given to the Minoan Civilization, which flowers in Crete during III

Myth

It is born in Crete with his brothers Rhadamanthe and (according to the authors) Sarpédon. It is raised by Astérion, king from the island, to which Zeus had entrusted Europe. According to the Pseudo-Apollodore, it disputes in its youth with his/her brothers for the love of a boy, Milétos (or Atymnios).

With died from Astérion, it receives the throne of Crete; it draws aside his brothers of the capacity then. It Marie with Pasiphaé, girl of Photogravure. It has as children ARIANE, Phèdre, Deucalion, Androgée, Glaucos, Catrée, Acacallis and Xénodicé.

It also has illegitimate children:

• Euxanthios (with Dexithéa)
• Eurymédon, Néphalion, Chrysès, Philolaos (with Bet)

To prove the support that the gods grant to him, he proclaims that he can obtain them all that he judges good, with the liking of his requests. He then beseeches Poséidon to offer a superb animal to him that he will sacrifice to him. With this request, Poséidon makes leave the floods splendid a white bull. However, Minos finds the bull so beautiful that it decides to mislead the sovereign of the Seas: it saves it and immole another animal. Furious of the attitude of Minos, Poséidon makes the bull insane and the fact of devastating the grounds of Crete; it also inspires in Pasiphaé a passion for the aforementioned bull: from their union is born the Minotaure. Minos, ashamed and fearing that the people do not discover this monster, entrusts to Dédale the construction of a Labyrinthe, in which it makes lock up Minotaure.

Of its reign remains the image of a sovereign right and good, that his/her father often took as advising or confidant. After its death, he becomes judge of the Enfers with Rhadamanthe and Éaque. He deals in particular with people who were wrongfully marked.

Interpretation

Civilization crétoise sometimes extended apart from the island, going until exerting a reality capacity in the Cyclades, the Peloponnese and in Attique, even until the Close East and in Egypt. The exercise of this capacity is done primarily by their maritime monopoly; thus civilization crétoise had a true “maritime empire”, a Thalassocratie (to be able of the sea), in particular materialized by the trade or piracy.

It should be known that the myth also tells that Minos claimed in Athens, as a tribute, sending seven young boys and seven young girls in offering with the Minotaure. One year, among the seven young boys, there be Thésée, the son of Egée, king d' Athènes. Thésée, on the councils of one of the girls of Minos, ARIANE, manages to kill the monster. The majority of the historians see in this myth the end of the subjection of Athens towards Minos.

Sources

• (III, 1,1-2).

• (france 19).
• (V, passim ).
• (VI).

See too

• , p.  269-275.

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