Cretan King Minos: biography and photos

Cretan King Minos - myth or reality? Such a ruler did exist in ancient times. This is said not only by archeologists, but also narrated by surviving manuscripts and legends. The reign of the king was legendary. It was an incredible era of heroes of ancient Greece. The gods are added by the folk epic. They speak of Minos with great respect not only ethnographers and archaeologists, but also the Greeks themselves.

The Secret of the Birth of Minos

According to the legend, Zeus - the patron of the sky, lightning and thunder - one of the main ancient Greek gods. He was very voluptuous and once abducted Europe, the daughter of Phoenician King Agenor. Soon she gave birth to three children, one of whom was the future ruler of Crete.

Climbing the Cretan throne

The mother of King Minos was very beautiful, and before leaving Crete, Zeus ordered Asteria, who was then the ruler of the island, to adopt the children of Europe and marry her. Before his death, the king decided to give the throne to Minos. And wanting to make sure of the correctness of his choice, he asked Poseidon for approval. In response to his pleas from the depths of the sea came a beautiful bull. This was confirmation from Poseidon of the correctness of the decision. And after the death of Asteria, Minos inherited the throne.

The Minos Board

His rule the new ruler of Crete began with the establishment of certain laws. King Minos climbed Mount Ida. On it, Zeus dictated to him a set of laws, which should be guided by his son. So Minos became the first Greek legislator. The new king of Crete sent his brother Radamant to establish laws on other lands. Subsequently, Zeus gave Minos a scepter and helped advice.

Soon he subdued to himself part of the lands of Lycia and became the founder of the city of Miletus. On the southern side of Attica, Minos discovered large deposits of silver and, seizing the surrounding lands, built the city of Lavrion. Thanks to the new ruler, the seas were cleared of pirates, and their shelters were destroyed. Minos became the first owner of a powerful navy.

The ruler was called the wise for nothing. The Cretan King Minos did not waste money on defensive installations. He decided that the best defense for the island is the navy. And on the nearby islands were built strong points. Thanks to the military fleet and the extermination of pirates, the inhabitants of Crete were able to trade with other countries. And due to this the island became prosperous and rich.

Monastery of Minos

The capital of Crete was the city of Knossos. In this city towered a magnificent palace, in which the king lived and Minos with his wife Pasiphaeus. They had many children, and some of them were honored to become heroes of legends and myths. Crete was guarded by the copper brigade guard Talos. It was a gift from Zeus to his son. Three times a day Talos went around the island, throwing enemy ships (if they swam close) with stones. In addition, Crete was also guarded by the navy.

Minotaur

Poseidon waited for the sacrifice of a beautiful bull. But Minos left the beast in his herd, and in return gave a simple horse. Poseidon was greatly offended and inspired Pasiphae's passion for a beautiful bull. Master Daedalus, expelled from Athens, was in the service of Minos. And on the orders of his wife made a wooden cow. Pasipha got into it and entered into an unnatural connection with a beautiful bull.

She became pregnant, and in due time the Minotaur appeared. But his mother passed away during the birth. Minos, seeing a baby with a bullish head, settled it in a labyrinth created specifically by the master Daedalus.

Sons of Minos

With Athens and their king, Aegen Minos always maintained friendly and very close ties. Therefore, sports competitions often took place between them. Androgaeus, one of the sons of Minos, became a famous athlete. Once he won the next games of all Athenian youths. The ruler of Athens, a former fanatic of his own athletes, decided in retaliation to kill a young man.

The king sent Androgeya to hunt for a marathon bull. It was a sure death. Minos, learning how his son was killed, decided to take revenge on the ruler of Athens. He went there with his navy. And he made King Egeya recognize the dependence on Crete. This was expressed in constant sacrifices. The king of Athens was to send nine young men and women to Knossos for nine years. They became victims of the Minotaur.

Daughters of Minos

This continued until Ariadne, the daughter of King Minos and Pasiphae, fell in love with Theseus, the son of Aegaeus, the ruler of Athens. The girl gave her lover a ball of magical threads. Thanks to them, Theseus found the Minotaur and killed him. Then I managed to get out of the labyrinth where the last one lived.

Another famous daughter of the Cretan King Minos is Phaedra. She married Theseus, who promised to marry Ariadne. The husband of Phaedra enjoyed great respect due to his numerous exploits. Theseus had the son of Hippolytus from his first marriage. And Phaedra burned him with love. Then the daughter of King Minos committed suicide. Perhaps to save the honor of her husband, and according to other sources - because of the fear of her husband.

Conquest

King Minos was just. When he decided to capture Megara, Ares's son, King Nisus, still ruled there. He had an amazing purple strand. She was the talisman of Nisus. Minos offered the ruler's daughter, Skille, a beautiful gold necklace for a purple strand cut from her father's head. And the girl brought Minos hair to Nisus. The city was taken, the residents were killed. And Skylla, having received the promised necklace, and, despite the help rendered, was executed for treachery for the edification of the rest.

He dreamed of conquering Minos and Keos Island. He arrived there on 50 ships. But on the island he found only three royal daughters. As it turned out, his son was helped by Zeus. He struck with lightning strikes all the inhabitants with the king, angry at the evil glances with which people enchanted crops. So Keos became the possession of Minos. One of the royal daughters gave birth to his son, whom he left on the island as an heir. Minos also owned a land army. It was ruled by his sons.

The Hunt That Caused Death

Master Daedalus decided to leave the possession of Minos. And, despite his prohibition, he was able to flee to Sicily, to the city of Kamik. Minos went to look for Daedalus. Arriving in Kamik, he decided to find out the location of the master cunningly. King Minos took the shell of the newt and promised a good reward to the one who would thread the thread through the shell. It could only be done by Daedalus.

And the king of Sicily Kokal, who harbored the master, was tempted by the promised reward. He expected that Daedalus would help him. The master succeeded, but Minos was convinced that he was in Sicily and demanded the extradition of the escaped citizen. But this was opposed by Kokala's daughters. Daedalus made amazing toys for them, the girls did not want the death of the master.

As a result, he made a pipe in the roof of the bath. And poured hot water into it while bathing Minos. The Sicilian court physician announced that Minos died of an apoplexy stroke. Thus the legendary and great ruler of Crete died ingloriously. His funeral was magnificent, worthy of kings. And the burial took place in Kamik, in the temple of Aphrodite. Then the remains of Minos were transported to Crete. According to legend, after the death of the legendary ruler became a judge in the dead kingdom of Hades.

Legendary Cretan King Minos. Myth or reality?

Only English scientist Evans managed to get permission to excavate the Kefal hill. And in the first days archaeologists could find confirmation of the legends about Minos. Frescos with the image of Zeus and the Minotaur were found. And also the images of King Minos. Over time, the Palace of Knossos was recreated. There was also a labyrinth of Minotaur in the form of many twisting corridors under the palace. But, except for myths, legends and frescos with the image of Minos, his existence of direct evidence has not yet been found. However, this does not prevent the Greeks from telling tourists about their great ruler, showing the sights that are associated with his name, and having very good incomes from this.