In Greek mythology, Minos was the
king of Crete. He was the son of the gods, Zeus and Europa. Every nine years,
King Minos would have King Aegeus choose nine young males and nine young
females to be taken to the labyrinth. They were taken to Daedalus’ creation to
be eaten by the Minotaur.
King Aegeus was a figure in the
founding myth of Athens. He is known as the “goat man” that named the Aegean
Sea after himself. He also, along with Poseidon, was the founder of Athenian
institutions and one of the kings of Athens itself.
The Minoan civilization in Crete
was named after him after his death by an archeologist. He had a total of
fifteen known children. Eight of them being from his wife, Pasiphae or often
known as Crete. They were Ariadne, Androgeus, Deucalion, Phaedra, Glaucus,
Catreus, Acacallis, and Xenodice. From a nymph, Pareia, he had four total
children. They were Eurymedon, Nephalion, Chryses, and Philolaus. They were all
murdered by Hercules for revenge on some of his companion’s deaths. By
Dexithea, he had another child, Euxanthius. Dexithea was one of the Telchines.
They were the original people who inhabited the island of Rhodes, which is often
called Crete or is known as Cyprus. By Adrogeneia of Phaestus, he had another
child by the name of Asterion. He was known for creating the Cretan group in
the war between Dionysus and the Indians. His other remaining children are
Euryale and Pholegander.
He was, along with his two
brothers, Rhadamanthys and Sarpedon, raised by King Asterion of Crete. When his
father died, Minos claimed the throne and banished his two brothers from the
kingdom of Crete.
The word Minos is the Cretan word
for “king.” The word Minos was often the title of the leader of a ruler of a
kingdom. If the ruling of a kingdom was passed on through the women of the
family, the next woman in charge of the kingdom would be referred to as the “Minos.”
Some scholars see a connection between the word, Minos, and other ancient
founders or kings. These are seen through Menes of Egypt, Mannus of Germany,
Manu of India, and even Meon of Phrygia and Lydia.
Minos is also seen in the blind
poet, Homer’s, Iliad and the Odyssey. He is represented as the King
of Knossos. It is told that Minos was the most ancient man known for creating a
navy. He also ruled over Crete and the Aegean Sea three generations before the
beginning of the Trojan War, which in itself was known for being involved with
Greek mythology. He lived in Knossos for nine years and received instruction
from Zeus about his island. He was also the founder of the Cretan constitution
and was the founder of its naval supremacy.
To the Athenians, he is viewed as a
cruel tyrant, because he sent children down to the labyrinth to be eaten by the
Minotaur. He did this for revenge of the death of his son, Androgeus, who was
killed during a riot.
It was seen as there being two King
Minos. One being him when he was living, and the other being him when after he
died. After he died he went to the underworld and became the judge of the dead.
The ‘good’ King Minos which was when he was living was praised by the gods on
Mount Olympus. He became one of the three Judges of the Dead. These judges were
composed of King Minos himself, Rhadamanthys, his brother, and his half-brother,
Aeacus. The ‘second’ Minos had many more children in the underworld.
