King Minos (U1 and U2)

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.