The labyrinth of the Minotaur is a myth and an eternal mystery of the island of Crete. Labyrinth, deadly without a minotaur

The labyrinth of the Minotaur in Crete is a world archaeological landmark. Popular every year architectural monument, located on a fabulously beautiful Greek island, attracts an endless stream of tourists from all over the world.

The ancient Greek legend of the Minotaur seems to come to life before the eyes of those who have at least once visited the numerous corridors of the famous labyrinth. It allows absolutely everyone to plunge into the mythical past with pleasure and touch the great ancient history.

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The myth of the labyrinth of the Minotaur

To reveal the secret and find out who built the labyrinth for the Minotaur and for what purpose, you need to talk about the myth itself.

The Greek sight tells about the reign of King Minos on the island of Crete at a time when it was necessary to present the god Poseidon with a sacred animal - a bull, as a sacrifice. Minos did not want to give away the beautiful white bull, leaving it to himself, but sacrificed an ordinary bull, thereby greatly angering the god. In response to this disobedience, Poseidon came up with a sophisticated punishment and bewitched the wife of the king Pasiphae, instilling in her an insane passion for the sacred white bull. Under the influence of a spell, the queen committed an act of adultery with a bull in a wooden cow made by the architect Daedalus, covered with skin. Subsequently, she gave birth to a semi-bull with a specific structure, with a human body and a bull's head, who was named the Minotaur.

The disgusting copulation gave birth to a terrible and ferocious monster. By order of the king, in order to hide the shame of his wife, Daedalus built the Knossos labyrinth, representing long intricate corridors of the dungeon, from the walls of which it was impossible to leave. The Minotaur was placed in an underground labyrinth, where he was both a hostage and a guard of a huge building. There were beliefs that any person who got there was doomed to get lost and stay there forever.

In order to feed the Minotaur, criminals were brought in every year, and 7 boys and 7 girls were delivered every 7 years. The number "seven" has long been associated with magic number, and that was the only way to appease the monster. All the doomed had their eyes gouged out and thrown into the labyrinth, where they wandered without finding a way out, or were eaten alive by the monster that overtook them. Those who were guilty before the ruler of Crete for the death of their son Androgey were brought from Athens, whose rulers did not want war, and obeying, every year they sent a ship under a black sail.

And who defeated the Minotaur in the labyrinth? The heroic liberator Theseus, the son of the Athenian king Aegeus, appeared in Athens at a time when they were about to send a terrible tribute to King Minos for the third time. He went to the island as one of the doomed youths. His goal was to destroy the bloodthirsty man-eater. The young man was determined to end the tradition of sacrifice, thereby freeing people from constant fear. He swore to put an end to the monster, and the white sail on the ship upon his return will be evidence of this.

Theseus killed the sleeping Minotaur in his lair with a sword in the chest. Wikipedia tells that the winner and the doomed young people got out of the labyrinth with a ball of thread, which was given to him by the daughter of King Minos - Ariadne. She fell in love with a handsome young man with a heroic heart. Having tied the end of the thread to the door to the labyrinth, Theseus lowered the ball in the course of his movement. Winding the thread into a ball, he easily walked back to the exit.

The island was filled with jubilation and laughter from the joy of people who were freed from a terrible monster. Theseus and Ariadne, in love, decided to flee together to Athens, despite the threats of Minos. But fate was unfair to the beloved. The enraged Poseidon took the girl into his dominion forever with the deep sea.

Saddened by the death of his beloved, Theseus forgot to replace the black flag with a white one upon his return to Athens. His father Aegeus, seeing a black flag from afar, could not bear the death of his son and rushed down the cliff and died. Since then, the famous Aegean Sea has appeared. The tragic legend of the Minotaur has penetrated every passage of the labyrinth, which is what attracts an endless stream of tourists and travelers.

Labyrinth of the Minotaur in Crete - where is it located and how to get there

The famous labyrinth is located in the Palace of Knossos. It represents a huge territory, which will have to walk for a very long time in order to consider everything in detail. From the capital of the island city of Heraklion is located to the south, at a distance of 5 km. You can get to the labyrinth of the Minotaur on your own using regular bus services from the city bus station, as well as from Freedom Square. Departure of buses at 7 o'clock with an interval of 30 minutes allows you to quickly get to your destination.

Fans of driving a car can rent a car, and, admiring the beauties of the island of Crete, calmly and slowly get to the palace. With the help of signs placed along the way, the road leads to a free parking lot where you can leave your car and walk to the famous labyrinth. In the open area of ​​the historical site, it is advised to wear hats and sunglasses.

Consider: during the holiday season, it is better to get to the labyrinth at the beginning of the opening. At this time, there are fewer tourists, not such a strong heat, you can take wonderful photos without a large crowd of people and bright sun.

Opening hours and ticket prices

The Minotaur Labyrinth Museum Complex is open to those wishing to visit the famous landmark on weekdays from 8 am to 7 pm, from June to the end of October. In the rest of the period - November-May, the opening hours are from 8:00 to 15:00. On weekends until 15:00. The cost of visiting for one adult is 6 euros, preferential category and children from 5 to 12 years old - 3 euros, the smallest visitors under 5 years old - free admission.

Note: There are also special days at the museum when admission is absolutely free for everyone: September 27, August 15, June 5, May 18.

Tickets for the most popular attraction of Crete can be purchased everywhere. You can also join one of the tour groups or hire a guide on the spot. With a guide, a journey into the mythical past will be much more informative and educational. By purchasing a Russian-language guide, you can safely move into the labyrinth, planning your own excursion.

Labyrinth of the Minotaur - detailed photos

The labyrinth of the Minotaur in the Palace of Knossos has the status of the most majestic building, surpassing Versailles and the Vatican in size. Built on a solid foundation, it has a complex structure of passages with multiple corridors and an abundance of various halls and rooms.

The multi-level buildings of the palace are connected by multi-stage staircases and ornate passages. Inner yard spaces, buildings, a summer representation, a theater and a garden have a precise, well-thought-out architectural plan, which has never been used anywhere in the history of the world.

The luxurious palace entrance is decorated with a majestic portico, a colonnade, as well as wall paintings. The most magnificent decor with frescoes and art paintings is replete with a complex composition, showing the high architectural level of the masters. Artifacts found during excavations show the luxury of the ancient setting. Women's jewelry, figurines of gods, vases and lamps made of gold that have survived to our time are evidence of great wealth. inlaid precious stones armor shows the greatness and power of the military of that time.

It is worth noting: it takes only half an hour to find a way out of the painted schematic labyrinth of the Minotaur, which clearly indicates a complex, mysterious and intricate mythical structure.

The ceremonial halls have an unusual aesthetic design, elegance of lines and a palette of different shades. Everywhere you can see outlandish totem animals with bird heads. Wall paintings tell about the life, ideal and value of the bygone Greek civilization. Picturesquely decorated walls show people's understanding of God, as well as the universe.

Each wall story tells about material culture, showing everyday things, national clothes and classes Greek people. The most ancient decorators used primary colors and shades when decorating. The frescoes depicting beautiful boys and young girls jumping over a huge bull are painted in detail.

The throne room is decorated with paintings dominated by red and white flowers. The depicted majestic vultures guard the throne of King Minos. Copies of the frescoes "Playing with Bulls", "Saffron Gatherer", "Blue Monkey", "Lady in Blue", "Blue Bird" are located in the room above the throne room. Also attracting great attention is the fresco called “Rhyton Bearer”, which depicts a young minus with a conical libation vessel. The fresco "Prince with Lilies" shows a luxurious priest of that time.

The queen's megaron attracts special attention. In the great hall are the famous frescoes - " dancing girl and Dolphins. In a partially preserved fresco, one can clearly see a girl with flying hair in motion. Dolphins, fish and sea ​​urchins as if come to life after a detailed reconstruction by the great architect Evans.

Greek culture gave humanity a huge number of myths and legends, unlike other cultures, and the labyrinth of the Minotaur is an invaluable architectural proof of this. The opinions of ancient Greek historians differ among themselves, considering the described event to be a myth and a reality.

You should not guess, it is better to stock up on the "Ariadne's thread" and go to an interesting and unique labyrinth of the Minotaur.

We bring to your attention an interesting video that tells about the famous labyrinth of the Minotaur:

Minotaur - a monster from Crete, main adversary Theseus. Described as a man with a bull's head, lived in an intricate labyrinth. Killed by Theseus.

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The legend of the origin of the Minotaur

Greek legends described him as a monster of great stature, with the body of an athlete and a bull's head. His mother was Pasiphae (not to be confused with Pasithea), daughter of the sun god Helios and queen of Crete, wife of Minos. Minos ascended the throne only by defeating his brother with the blessing of the gods. In order for Minos to confirm his noble intentions and become a pious king, Poseidon sent him a magnificent bull and ordered the animal to be sacrificed.

Minos felt sorry for killing such a wonderful creature, and he released the bull to graze along with the herd, and instead killed another, ordinary one. Poseidon became angry and inspired Pasiphae with an unnatural attraction to the bull. According to some sources, Poseidon himself (in a number of myths - Zeus) turned into a bull in order to copulate with the queen. To do this, the Athenian engineer Daedalus came up with an ingenious design in the form of a bronze cow attractive to a bull. It was hollow on the inside, and Pasiphae was in it.

After the due date, the queen gave birth to a monster. The Minotaur, by order of Minos, was hidden in the labyrinth of Daedalus - Knossos. The Minotaur was fed by criminals and Athenian youths and girls - they were brought in every nine years, seven males and seven females. In some myths, seven children were sacrificed to the Minotaur.

Pausanias wrote that the real name of the Minotaur was Asterius, i.e. "starry". Antique vases with images of this beast almost always contain images of stars or eyes. Mycenaean texts also contain references to a certain mistress of the labyrinth, which could probably be Ariadne.

Minotaur and Theseus

Diodorus writes that Theseus sailed in the second game, and Plutarch claimed that in the third. But it is known for sure that the hero was among the victims of the Minotaur after he killed him. According to some sources, to reduce the resistance of the captives, they were deprived of their sight. According to others, it was impossible to leave the intricate labyrinth, and those who escaped death at the hands of the Minotaur simply died without water and food.

Theseus was among the fourteen victims. Together with the others, he was launched into the labyrinth, where he fought the Minotaur and killed him with his bare hands. Sometimes it is indicated that the hero had a sword with him.

Ariadne (half-sister of the Minotaur, but daughter of Minos) gave him a ball of thread with her, which Theseus unwound all the way. As a result, he and the rest of the captives left the labyrinth unharmed. The throne at Amykla contains an image of a captive Minotaur led by Theseus on a rope.

Rationalist version of the legend of the Minotaur

Philochor, and after it Eusebius in their writings they described a different version of the origin of the Minotaur, in which the bull-headed monster acts as an allegory. According to legend, the Minotaur was a man, his name was Taurus. He taught the young king of Crete - Minos, and became famous for his cruelty. At that time, Athens was under the rule of Crete and paid tribute by people. Minos decided to establish a competition in which his teacher fought with sent Athenian youths. Taurus defeated nine, but Theseus, the son of the Athenian king, defeated him. In honor of the victory, Athens was exempted from paying tribute.

The labyrinth at Knossos and the myth of the Minotaur

Also Daedalus' Labyrinth, according to Plutarch was the most ordinary prison. Ordinary prisoners were housed within its walls, and in very tolerable conditions. Minos annually held competitions in honor of Androgeus, his son, who was killed by the Athenians. The winner received as slaves boys and girls sent from Athens. Before that, they were kept in the Labyrinth. Taurus enjoyed the great confidence of Minos and was the first winner of the competition. Taurus was known as a rude and hard-hearted master, merciless with slaves. « State structure Bottii" by Aristotle clearly expresses the author's idea that it was simply unprofitable to kill the sent people - young people were highly valued in the slave market. They most likely remained slaves in Crete until the end of their days.

Historian Daemon believed that Taurus was a commander whose fleet engaged in battle with the fleet of Theseus in the harbor and was defeated. Taurus died in this battle. Plutarch wrote that Taurus was a general killed in the war between Crete and Athens. Later history about the Minotaur - the fruit of human invention and myth-making.

Other hypotheses and the cult of bulls

Minotaur could be borrowed Phoenician god under the name . Moloch was depicted as a horned man, and children were sacrificed to him. The famous expression "hell of fire" came from the place where human sacrifices were made to Moloch - the children were "guided through the fire", that is, they were burned alive. The cult of Moloch could very well be in Crete. The death of the Minotaur marked the end of this cult.

A number of modern historians consider the history of the Minotaur to be an allegorical story about the collision of the Indo-Europeans with the cultures of the autochthonous "peoples of the sea". These "sea peoples" of unknown origin revered bulls. The clash was won by the more civilized in modern understanding Indo-Europeans. Also, the appearance of the Minotaur is suggestive of the beast-headed Egyptian gods.

Theseus, a novel by Mary Renault, contains a description of ritual sacrifices. They were called "bull belts" - a kind of protocorrida. Scenes with bull belts are often found on the frescoes of the Cretan period. Artistic materials of the Minoan era contain images of taurocatapsia - ritual jumps over a bull. The cult of the worship of the bull was very strong in Crete, and such rituals were a significant part of it.

This theme has been traced back to bronze age, from where she migrated to the Hittite kingdom, Syria, Bactria and the Indus Valley. Bullfighting and bull veneration are common in Mediterranean cultures. Today, this phenomenon has survived as a Spanish bullfight.

The double-edged ax of the executioner - "labrys", was an integral part of the bull cult. Probably, "labyrinth" is a modified "labrys". Pre-Hellenic religions often practiced sacred bullfights, and Cretan demonology contains quite a few bull-headed people. The minotaur living in the heart of the labyrinth was most likely a cruel legend, an echo of the even more terrifying rituals of Crete. The most ancient forms of the legend of Theseus and the Minotaur say that the hero defeated the monster with a double-edged axe.

September 23rd, 2013

Scientists rank the Cretan culture as one of the most mysterious in world history. Until the 30s of the XX century. practically nothing was known about her until the English archaeologist Arthur Evans made a discovery that became a real sensation, perhaps even more than the excavations of the tomb of Tutankhamen.

Heinrich Schliemann, the discoverer of the legendary Troy, came out on the trail of an ancient civilization that was common throughout the eastern coast of Greece and on the islands of the Aegean Sea with a center on the island of Crete. But the scientist did not have time to start excavations of cultural monuments, which received the name "Crete-Mycenaean" ("Crete-Minoan") - he died. But Evans managed to find something completely fantastic that even Schliemann could not have imagined: the existence of a people and a state that was a thousand years older than Ancient Greece. For the first time sticking a spade into the land of Crete, Evans met with a real island of mysteries.

About this once flourishing area, only what was related to the field of mythology was known. According to myths, Zeus the Thunderer himself was born here, and then his son Minos, one of the most powerful rulers, reigned in Crete. ancient world. The skillful master Daedalus built a legendary labyrinth for the king, which later became the prototype of all future labyrinths.

Arthur Evans began with excavations near Knossos. Already after a few hours it was possible to talk about the first results, and two weeks later the astonished archaeologist stood in front of the remains of buildings that covered an area of ​​2.5 hectares. On this huge rectangle stood a structure whose walls were made of hollow bricks, and whose flat roofs were supported by columns. But the chambers, halls and corridors of the Palace of Knossos were placed in such a bizarre order that visitors really risked getting lost among the countless turns and randomly placed rooms. It really looked like a labyrinth, which gave Evans no hesitation in declaring that he had found the palace of Minos, the father of Ariadne and Phaedra, the owner of the terrible bull-man Minotaur.

The archaeologist really discovered something amazing. It turns out that the people, about which nothing was known before, was drowning in luxury and voluptuousness and, probably, at the top of its development, reached that sybaritic "decadence", which already harbored the germs of decline and regression.

The pearl of the sea, a precious diamond set in the blue of the sky, this capital should have seemed to sailors approaching the island. At least two great people - Ovid and Herodotus, who saw the Cretan Palace in a more or less preserved form - described it in unusually enthusiastic tones. True, the Hellenes themselves already vaguely imagined what a labyrinth was and what its purpose was. They only retell the legends and beautiful legends, like the mythical "thread of Ariadne", which helped the beloved princess Theseus to get out of the labyrinth.

It is enough to take a look at the plan of the Palace of Knossos to make sure that it was a grandiose building, surpassing the Vatican, the El Escorial, and Versailles. The labyrinth consisted of a central courtyard surrounded by many buildings, courtyards, a theater and the king's summer villa. The structure stands on a solid foundation and forms a complex system of temples, halls, rooms, corridors, passages and warehouses located at different levels and connected by countless stairs and passages. But this is by no means a chaotic jumble of buildings, but a single architectural concept, one huge palace-city, a building-state that has no analogues in the history of architecture. The richly decorated entrance to the palace was a majestic portico with a colonnade, the lower part of the wall of which was covered with paintings, interspersed with frescoes with complex compositions.

Through the main portico, the visitor entered the main hall, then the throne room and the hall for exits. On the floor of the corridor leading to this part of the palace, there is a path made of limestone slabs, bordered by stripes of blue asp. A special passage led directly from the chambers of the king to the theater, to the royal box, where Minos passed, bypassing the curious glances of the crowd. Next came the chambers of the queen, royal family, nobles and close associates of the sovereign.

Things found in the labyrinth confirm the idea of ​​the richness of its environment. Objects and fragments of magnificent furniture have survived to our time, among which are tables with intricately made legs, decorated alabaster chests, metal lamps, gold, silver and faience vases. Statues and figurines of gods, depicting sacred symbols, very common among the Aegeans, have also been preserved. Other treasures were found in the pantries, for example, swords with elegant inlay, men's belts with precious stones, gold reserves. There were especially many kinds of women's jewelry - necklaces, tiaras, bracelets, rings, earrings, perfume bottles, lipstick boxes, etc.

Evans also found pantries full of giant vessels (pithoi) with wine, the total capacity of which, according to the archaeologist's calculations, was 80,000 liters. This was the palace supply of only one drink.

The heyday of the Crete-Mycenaean culture, scientists attributed to 1600 BC. e. - the estimated time of life and reign of Minos, the leader of the Cretan fleet and the ruler of the seas. Civilization has experienced clear signs decline, it was replaced by indefatigable luxury, and beauty was elevated to a cult. The frescoes depicted young men gathering crocuses in the meadows and filling vases with them, girls among lilies. In painting, which was previously subject to certain forms, now dominated by a violent sparkle of colors, the dwelling served not only as a cloister - it was designed to please the eye; even in clothes they saw only a means for the manifestation of refinement and individuality of taste.

Is it any wonder that scientists who have studied the nature of wall paintings and architectural features labyrinth, used the word "modern"? In fact, in this palace, which was not inferior in size to Buckingham, there were drainage channels, and magnificent bath rooms, and even ventilation. A parallel with modernity was also suggested in the images of people, which made it possible to judge their manners and Cretan fashion. If at the beginning of the Middle Minoan period women wore high pointed headdresses and long colorful dresses with a belt, a deep neckline and a high bodice, then their clothes acquired an even more refined look. And when today we say that women, in imitation of men, wear short hair, then the Cretan ladies were, from the current point of view, super fashionistas, because they had hairstyles even shorter than their gentlemen.

On the walls of the Cretan labyrinth, other, deeper, and even philosophical plots, revealing the idea of ​​the Minoans about the universe. These are not just symbols, but the very life of matter, reflecting the rhythm of the cosmos, appearing in the ceramic ornament. All the frescoes of Cretan buildings are permeated with the same attitude. In the center of these horizontally running drawings is a man, surrounded on top by the earth framed by flowers, and below by mountains. The figures resemble the image of the Mother Goddess, the patroness of the natural world. “Everything flows” - this thought of Heraclitus fully reflects the attitude of the Minoan civilization.

The builders showed considerable architectural skill and imagination in drawing up the very plan of the palace. They skillfully placed its individual parts, connecting large halls and temples into one whole, not disregarding the possibility of optimal lighting of the building. To this end, special passages were arranged in the labyrinth, courtyards-wells through which light fell either on the stairs or directly into the halls, thus receiving illumination on one side. The use of columns made it possible to increase the size of the rooms during the study, bringing them closer in area to the most extensive halls of modern palaces.

Nevertheless, a period came when this whole huge kingdom with a population of at least one hundred thousand people was destroyed for some reason. The first version of the death of Knossos was put forward by the same Arthur Evans. He proceeded from the fact that Crete is one of the most earthquake-prone regions of Europe, and therefore the scientist's hypothesis boiled down to the fact that only the strongest earthquake was able to completely destroy the palace of Minos.

However, not all scientists share this hypothesis. The objections boil down to the following: suppose that a natural disaster, including an earthquake or a fire, is quite enough to destroy the palace buildings. But for the death of the entire Cretan civilization - hardly.

For almost a century, historians have been looking for an answer to this question. And only in our days, after the next excavations in Crete, new facts have surfaced, which, in Once again confuse the experts. What was the labyrinth of Knossos really? It turned out that some details and the general configuration of the ensemble give reason to assume a completely different purpose. Not a palace, but a kind of columbarium, that is, a sacred burial place for dead people - this is what the Knossos labyrinth could actually be. Firstly, the people in the frescoes are shown not in everyday clothes and not in a domestic environment. And they're not all fun. Not a single person is smiling on any of the frescoes - the faces are depicted in an emphatically severe and restrained way. Refined and refined women with open breasts are dressed in bluish dresses and pinafores with mountain flowers embroidered on them. We can come to the conclusion that before us are not court actresses, but mourners. By the way, the priestesses of Ancient Egypt also bared their breasts during a memorial service, and Herodotus wrote about a similar sign of mourning among the Greeks.

In the labyrinth of Knossos there was a rather large room with stepped stands, which Evans' colleagues called the "court entertainment theater." On one of famous frescoes there is an image of this "theater". Nothing festive there, too, can not be seen. Fourteen priestesses on a rectangular stage stand in ritual poses, they are dressed in blue dresses. In the stands there are women with white faces and men with brown paint on their faces, which may mean a ritual that was in use during the funeral of the dead. In a word, it is quite possible that a funeral service is taking place here, for which the relatives of the deceased have gathered.

However, once again it must be emphasized that this is only a hypothesis that is waiting for confirmation, an attempt at a new reading of the history of the Knossos labyrinth. His mystery remains unsolved to this day. Perhaps the main discoveries are yet to come, if there are specialists who will be lucky enough to completely decipher the inscriptions that have been called "Cretan Linear B", and it is very likely that ancient civilization appear in an even more amazing light.
What do we know about the labyrinth itself?

According to legend, this labyrinth was built by Daedalus in order to imprison the Minotaur. Medieval scholars considered this labyrinth the most difficult of all ever created. Mathematical Odds to get out of there are extremely small, Daedalus used the psychological factors of behavior so ingeniously that the probability of escaping from the labyrinth is practically zero. If the passages of this labyrinth were a meter wide, and the walls were 30 centimeters thick, the only path leading out of it would be more than a kilometer long. Most likely, any person would rather die of hunger or thirst before finding a way out.

For my long history the Cretan labyrinth was destroyed and rebuilt several times, and in 1380 BC it was completely destroyed and abandoned, until the English archaeologist A. Evans discovered a mysterious hieroglyphic letter in the Oxford Museum. The letter spoke of an ancient labyrinth. In 1900, an archaeologist arrived in Crete and began excavations. Arthur Evans conducted excavations for almost 30 years and unearthed not a city, but a palace, equal in area to the whole city. This was the famous Knossos labyrinth, which was a structure with total area 22 thousand square meters, which had at least 5-6 above-ground levels, floors, connected by passages and stairs, and a number of underground crypts. Cretan labyrinth turned out to be not an invention of the ancients, but a real miracle of architecture, in which there was something incomprehensible to the mind.

The Labyrinth is a real Myth, it is a story about heroes and events that historical science does not recognize as real, but considers them as symbols. We believe that any myth, any image, any symbolic narrative is based on reality, even if not always historical. The myth accurately describes psychological reality: human experiences, mental processes and forms are hidden behind symbols that have been passed down from generation to generation and finally come down to us so that we can unravel them, remove the veil from them and again see their innermost meaning, realize their deep essence. The myth of the Labyrinth is one of the oldest, it is similar to the myths of all ancient civilizations, saying that the labyrinth is a difficult and obscure path, on the complex and winding paths of which it is not surprising to get lost.

Sometimes the plot of this myth is woven into a story about an extraordinary person, about a hero or mythical character, who overcomes the labyrinth and finds the key to solving the riddle that appeared before him in the form of a path. When we talk about labyrinths, we immediately recall the most famous of them, about which evidence has been preserved in Greek mythology- in a simple and accessible form, close to a children's fairy tale: the labyrinth of Crete. I do not want to talk about it in the same simplified way as it is done in famous legends, we will open its deeper layers and analyze archaeological finds made in Crete to understand what the Cretans worshiped and what the labyrinth really was for them. And we'll see how this story gets complicated symbolic form, and he will no longer seem so childish to us.

So, one of the ancient symbols of Crete, associated with its supreme deity, was a double-edged ax, which can be represented as two pairs of horns, one of which is directed upwards, the other downwards. This ax was associated with the sacred bull, whose cult was widespread in Crete. It was called Labrys and, according to an older tradition, served as a tool with which the god, who later received the name Ares-Dionysus from the Greeks, cut through the First Labyrinth. Here is his story. When Ares-Dionysus, the god of primordial times, is very ancient god, descended to earth, nothing had yet been created, nothing had yet taken shape, there was only darkness, darkness. But, according to legend, from heaven Ares-Dionysus was given a tool, Labrys, and it was with this tool, with this weapon that he created the world.

Ares-Dionysus began to walk in the midst of darkness, describing circle after circle. (This is very interesting, because modern science discovered that when we find ourselves in the dark in an unfamiliar room or trying to get out of some spacious but unlit place, we most often begin to walk in circles; the same happens when we get lost or wander through the woods. We gave such a comparison because from the very beginning we want to emphasize that the symbolism of the labyrinth is associated with certain atavisms inherent in man.) And so Ares-Dionysus began to walk in a circle, dissecting the darkness and cutting furrows with his axe. The road that he cut through and which became lighter with every step, is called the "labyrinth", that is, "the path cut by Labrys."

When Ares-Dionysus, cutting through the darkness, reached the very center, to the goal of his path, he suddenly saw that he no longer had the ax that he had at the beginning. His ax turned into pure light- he held in his hands a flame, fire, a torch, which brightly illuminated everything around, for God performed a double miracle: with one edge of the ax he cut the darkness outside, and with the other - his inner darkness. In the same way that he created light outside, he created light in himself; just as he cut the outer path, he cut the inner path. And when Ares-Dionysus reached the center of the labyrinth, he reached the end point of his path: he reached the light, reached inner perfection.

Such is the symbolism of the Cretan myth of the labyrinth, the most ancient of those that have come down to us. Later traditions we know much better. The most famous of them is the myth of the mysterious labyrinth created by Daedalus, an amazing architect and inventor from ancient Crete, whose name is now always associated with a labyrinth, an intricate path. The name Daedalus, or Dactyl as he is sometimes called, on ancient language Greek means “He who creates”, “He who works with his hands, builds”. Daedalus is a symbol of the builder, but not just the creator of the complex of parks and palaces, which was the labyrinth of King Minos, but the builder in more deep sense words, perhaps similar to the symbolism of the very first deity who built the Labyrinth of Light in the darkness.

The Daedalus Labyrinth was neither an underground structure, nor something dark and sinuous; it was a huge complex of houses, palaces and parks, conceived in such a way that those who entered it could not find their way out. It's not that the labyrinth of Daedalus was terrible, but that it was impossible to get out of it. Daedalus built this labyrinth for the Cretan king Minos, an almost legendary character whose name allows us to get acquainted with very ancient traditions of all the peoples of that era. Minos lived in a fabulous palace and had a wife, Pasiphae, who caused all the drama associated with the labyrinth.

Wanting to become king, Minos counted on the help of another powerful god, the ruler of the waters and oceans of Poseidon. In order for Minos to feel his support, Poseidon performed a miracle: he created a white bull from the waters and sea foam and presented it to Minos as a sign that he really was the king of Crete. However, as he says Greek myth, it so happened that the wife of Minos fell hopelessly in love with a white bull, dreamed only of him and wanted only him. Not knowing how to approach him, she asked Daedalus, the great builder, to build a huge bronze cow, beautiful and attractive, so that the bull would feel attracted, while Pasiphae would hide inside her. And now a real tragedy is played out: Daedalus creates a cow, Pasiphae hides in it, the bull approaches the cow, and from this strange union of a woman and a bull, half a bull, half a man appears - the Minotaur.

This monster, this monster settled in the center of the labyrinth, which at the same moment turned from a complex of parks and palaces into a gloomy place that inspires fear and sadness, an eternal reminder of the misfortune of the king of Crete. Some ancient traditions, in addition to the Cretan ones, have preserved a less simplified interpretation of the tragedy of Pasiphae and the White Bull. For example, in the legends of pre-Columbian America and India, there are references to the fact that millions of years ago, at a certain stage in human evolution, people went astray and mixed with animals, and because of this perversion and violation of the laws of nature, real monsters appeared on earth, hybrids that are difficult to even describe. They instilled fear not only because they possessed, like the Minotaur, evil temper; they bore the stamp of shame from a union that should never have taken place, from a secret that was not to be revealed until all these events were erased from the memory of mankind.

So, the connection of Pasiphae with the Bull and the birth of the Minotaur is related to the ancient races and to those ancient events that at a certain moment were erased from the memory of people. On the other hand, the monster, the Minotaur, is blind, amorphous matter without reason or purpose, which hides in the center of the labyrinth, waiting for victims from its benefactor. Years pass, the legend continues, and the Minotaur in his labyrinth really turns into something terrifying. The king of Crete, having defeated the Athenians in the war, imposes a terrible tribute on them: every nine years they must send seven young men and seven innocent girls to sacrifice to the Minotaur. When the deadline for paying the third tribute comes, in Athens, a hero with all the virtues, Theseus, rises against this. He promises himself not to accept the rule of the city until he frees him from misfortune, until he kills the Minotaur.

Theseus himself enters the number of young men who should become victims of the monster, goes to Crete, captivates the heart of Ariadne, the daughter of Minos, and achieves that she gives him a ball of thread with which he can go through the labyrinth and then, having killed the Minotaur, find from him an exit. The ball played a crucial role in this story. Theseus enters the labyrinth and, penetrating further and further into its complex and intricate corridors, unwinds the thread. Having reached the center, thanks to his colossal strength and will, he kills the Minotaur and finds a way out. In simple and naive stories, Theseus kills the Minotaur with a sword, sometimes with a dagger. But in the most ancient narratives, as well as in the images on ancient Attic vases, Theseus kills the Minotaur with a double-bladed axe. Once again, the hero who has made his way through the labyrinth, having reached the center, performs a miracle with the help of the Labrys, the double axe.

We have to solve another riddle: Ariadne gives Theseus not a ball - but a spindle with threads. And, penetrating into the depths of the labyrinth, Theseus unwinds it. But the hero returns to the exit, picking up the thread and winding it up again, and from the labyrinth he takes out a really ball - a perfectly round ball. This symbol also cannot be called new. The spindle with which Theseus goes into the labyrinth symbolizes his imperfection. inner peace, which he must "deploy", that is, pass a series of tests.

The ball that he creates by picking up the thread is the perfection that he achieved by putting the Minotaur to death, which means passing the tests and leaving the labyrinth. There were many labyrinths, as well as Teseev. They also exist in Spain. All along the way to Santiago de Compostella and throughout Galicia there are endless ancient images labyrinths on stone, which call the pilgrim to set foot on the path to Santiago and pass this road, and they directly indicate to us that in their symbolic and spiritual meaning this path is a maze

In England, in the famous castle of Tintagel, where, according to legend, King Arthur was born, there are also labyrinths. We also meet them in India, where they were a symbol of reflection, concentration, turning to the true center. IN Ancient Egypt in the ancient city of Abydos, founded almost in the predynastic period, there was a labyrinth, which was a round temple. In its galleries, ceremonies were held to celebrate time, evolution, and the endless roads that a person traveled before reaching the center, which meant meeting with true man. According to the history of Egypt, the labyrinth from Abydos was, apparently, only a very small part of the huge labyrinth described by Herodotus, who considered the Egyptian labyrinth so colossal, amazing and unimaginable that even the Great Pyramid pales next to it. Today we can no longer see this labyrinth, we have only the testimony of Herodotus. For many centuries, for the peculiarities of his presentation, people called him the father of history, Herodotus the truthful, and gave many more similar names, but when not all of his descriptions were confirmed, we naturally decided that Herodotus was not always sure of his words. On the other hand, modern science has confirmed the truth of so many descriptions of it that it is probably worth being patient and waiting - all of a sudden, archaeologists will open the labyrinth that the Greek historian wrote about. There were many labyrinths in the Gothic cathedrals of the Middle Ages.

One of the most famous, images of which are quite common, is a labyrinth laid out on the stone floor of the main cathedral in Chartres. It was created not for someone to get lost in it, but for it to be walked: it was a kind of path of initiation, a path of accomplishment and a path of achievement that a candidate, a student, one who aspired to be accepted in the Mystery. Indeed, it is extremely difficult to get lost in the labyrinth of Chartres: all its roads are purely symbolic, all turns and crossroads are visible. The most important thing here is to reach the center, a square stone on which the various constellations are marked with nails. For a person, this allegorically means reaching Heaven and becoming one with the deities. It is very likely that all such myths of antiquity and all the symbolic labyrinths of Gothic cathedrals reflect not so much a historical reality as a psychological one. A psychological reality The labyrinth is still alive today. If in ancient times they spoke of the initiatory labyrinth as a path through which a person could realize himself, today we must speak of a material and psychological labyrinth. It is not difficult to see the material labyrinth: the world around us, what we encounter in life, how we live and how we manifest ourselves, are all part of one labyrinth. The difficulty is different: the one who got into the Cretan parks and palaces did not even suspect that he had entered the labyrinth; so are we in our Everyday life we do not realize that we are in a labyrinth that draws a person into itself.

From a psychological point of view, the confusion of Theseus, who longed to kill the Minotaur, is of the same nature as the confusion of a man who is confused and frightened. We are frightened because we do not know and cannot do something; afraid because we do not understand something and because of this we feel insecure. Our fear usually manifests itself in the fact that we cannot choose, we do not know where to go, what to devote our lives to; it manifests itself in eternal routine and mediocrity, debilitating and sad: we are ready for anything, just not to make decisions and not show at least a little firmness. Confusion is another disease that haunts us in the modern labyrinth on the psychological plane. This confusion arises because it is very difficult for us to decide who we are, where we came from and where we are going. These three questions are main reason our confusion, although they are so simple and unsophisticated that they seem childish to us. Is there any meaning in our lives other than being constantly at a loss? Why do we work and why do we study? Why do we live and what is happiness? What are we striving for? What is suffering and how to recognize it? From a psychological point of view, we are still wandering in the labyrinth, and although there are no monsters and narrow corridors in it, traps constantly lie in wait for us. And of course it is the myth that offers us the solution. Theseus does not enter the labyrinth empty-handed, and it would be strange if we were looking for a way out of it empty-handed. Theseus takes two items with him: an ax (or a sword - as you prefer) to kill the monster, and a spindle with threads, his ball, to find his way back.

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The culture of Ancient Greece contains many exciting stories, unique stories and instructive legends. The veracity and reliability of the ancient legend about the murder of the Minotaur has no specific written evidence. However, the ruins of the former palace of the monster have survived, they are more than 4 thousand years old. This place is of great interest to people who want to touch mysterious history liberation, love and grief.

Origin of the monster

The Minotaur is described as a monster over 2 m tall. He has a bull's head and human body. He ate human flesh.

The myth of the Minotaur tells that his parents are not ordinary mortals. Pasiphae's mother, daughter of Helios and queen of the island of Crete (she is often confused with Pasithea, but she was a Nereid, and these are different characters), her father is a bull (according to some legends, Poseidon himself became him). Pasiphae was the wife of Minos, the son of Zeus and Europa, who fought with his brothers Rhadamanthus and Sapedon for the throne. Minos asked the gods for help, promising to present them with a generous sacrifice in return. Everything turned out as Minos wished, he confirmed his intentions and ascended to the kingdom.

Legend has it that Poseidon sent a strong bull for sacrifice to the king, which came straight out of sea ​​waters. But the son of Zeus did not keep his promise. The bull turned out to be very beautiful, so he decided to trick Poseidon and replaced the donated animal with an ordinary one.

However, it was impossible to deceive the gods, so Poseidon became aware of the cunning of Minos. For this, he decided to punish him. The sea lord inspired Pasiphae, the wife of Minos, with an irresistible desire for a bull. For copulation with a bull, a special design was invented, similar to a cow. From the inside, it was empty, so the girl could easily fit in it.

Pasiphae seduced the bull and after a while gave birth unusual person. The boy was named Asterius, which means "starry". Initially, the child was no different from the others. But as he grew, his body began to change, turning him into a monster.

Minos did not condemn his wife, because he understood that everything that happened was his fault. But he did not want to see the child either. And then Daedalus and Icarus came to his aid. He set them the task of erecting a structure where it was possible to contain a monster with a bull's head and a human body. They created the Knossos labyrinth.

Knowing about the bloodthirstiness of the beast, the king sent those sentenced to death for any crimes to Cross. But after the inhabitants of Athens killed Androgey, the son of the king of Crete, he demanded payment from the inhabitants of the capital in retaliation. Therefore, any mention of a bull evoked a feeling of fear among the inhabitants of ancient Athens. To meet the needs of the animal, it is necessary:

1. Every 9 years to pay tribute.
2. Choose 7 girls and 7 boys and send them to the maze. Their origin did not matter.

History of Theseus

Theseus is the same hero who killed the Minotaur. He is one of 14 victims who were sent as tribute to the monster. He was born and lived in the royal chambers. The young hero came from the clan of Aegeus, who ruled in Athens. His mother's name was Erfa, she was the princess of Tesera.

Aegeus did not educate Theseus, he was constantly away from his family. For a long time the young man lived with his mother, in her homeland. Before parting with his family and leaving for Athens, Aegeus hid the sword and sandals - it was a kind of gift to Theseus. Wanting to see his parent, a sixteen-year-old boy leaves his monastery (Tezersky lands) and goes to Athens. Along the way, he performs various feats.

Victory over the Minotaur

Theseus was to visit the dwelling of the Minotaur, so he was determined to complete the monstrous string of human sacrifices so that people who lived in constant fear for their children could breathe freely.

One fact contributed to the success of the operation. Minos gave birth to more children, and he had a daughter, Ariadne. Seeing young man, the girl fell in love, the feeling turned out to be mutual, so they began a strong relationship. She knew that danger awaited in the labyrinth of the son of the Athenian king, so she gave her beloved a magic thread. She helped any traveler find the right way out. Knowing this, Ariadne gave it to Theseus so that he could navigate while inside the labyrinth.

Theseus, did everything the way the girl taught him. He took the end of the thread and tied it to the door, and to indicate the way he put a ball on the floor, followed him and reached the lair of the beast. Entering it, he found a sleeping monster. There are 3 versions of how the young man defeated the Minotaur.

1. Strangled with bare hands.
2. Killed the beast with one blow of his fist.
3. He hacked to death with a sword that was left to him by his father.

Upon learning the news that the son of Aegeus had killed the Minotaur and emerged from the place where the beast was imprisoned, people rejoiced. The winner understood that he simply could no longer exist without the beautiful beloved Ariadne. Therefore, leaving the island, he kidnapped the girl.

On the way, the girl dies in the depths of the sea. People assumed that this was the work of Poseidon, who in this way decided to take revenge on Theseus for killing the Minotaur. The son of Aegeus was so saddened by the news of the death of the girl that he forgot to change the flag from black to white. As a sign of a successful completion of the case.

As soon as King Aegeus saw the black sign, he concluded that his son lost the fight with the monster and died. Therefore, without waiting for anyone, he threw himself into the depths of the sea and drowned. In memory of this, the sea was called the Aegean.

After the young man dealt with the monster, the human foot did not set foot on the territory of the labyrinth. People remembered all the horror and fear caused by the Minotaur.

Rationalist versions of the myth

Modern historians believe that the legend of the Minotaur carries a metaphor for the clash and struggle of the inhabitants of the mainland with the "peoples of the sea", who revered the bulls.

The image of the Minotaur in other works

Authors literary works often based on ancient Greek mythology. It is rich in colorful and original characters. The Minotaur is one of those. In literature, the image of the beast, which looks like a man with a bull's head, can be found in the works:

• "House of Asterius".
• "Labyrinth of the Minotaur".
• "The Divine Comedy".
• "Helmet of Terror. Creatiff on Theseus and the Minotaur.

Labyrinth of the Minotaur (Greece) - description, history, location. Exact address, phone number, website. Reviews of tourists, photos and videos.

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According to one of the myths, a huge palace was built for King Minos on the island of Crete with an intricate system of rooms and corridors, the way out of which was very difficult to find. In this palace, the ruler settled the Minotaur, a monster with the head of a bull and the body of a man. Every seven years, Athens captured by Minos had to send seven of the most beautiful girls and young men, who were then fed to the monster. This continued until the fearless Theseus voluntarily went to Minos to save Athens from a terrible and cruel tribute. The hero managed to kill the Minotaur and save the doomed Athenian youth. He was the first to be able to get out of the labyrinth unharmed: the daughter of Minos Ariadne fell in love with him, who handed Theseus a ball of thread at the entrance to the labyrinth, and unwinding them, he marked the way. Everything ended well for the Greek hero, but the question remains: does this labyrinth really exist?

Theories and evidence

Many of those who have visited the ruins of the Palace of Knossos agree with a number of scientists that it is this palace that is described in myth as the labyrinth of the Minotaur: the size of this palace is grandiose, and the interior system is disordered. Adherents of this theory are not embarrassed that the palace was built much later than the myth arose. There are people who believe that the labyrinth is located in the mountains and consists of intricately connected caves and passages between them. Supporters of this version claim that to this day mysterious creatures live in these caves.

One way or another, but the ancient people considered the labyrinth a symbol of life: moving forward, you can find yourself in a dead end, find an unexpected exit, get confused, suddenly find yourself far, far from the exit, and then completely unexpectedly find the desired path. The image of the labyrinth in ancient times was revered on a par with magical relics and was used for spells. In addition, the labyrinth personified the struggle with dark forces, and the way out of it - victory over them.

How to get there

To better understand the reality that once gave rise to ancient greek myths, it is worth visiting the magnificent island of Crete and after that, perhaps, to form your own idea of ​​​​the life of the ancient Greeks and their creations. It is advised to look for the same labyrinth of the Minotaur or only invented for the sake of tourists in the Knossos Palace. It is located 5 km from Heraklion. The cost of visiting the palace is 16 EUR (preferential tickets - 8 EUR), opening hours from 8:00 to 19:00 from June to October, the rest of the time - from 8:00 to 15:00. Prices on the page are for November 2018.

Regular buses run from Heraklion to the palace from the bus station and from the fountain on Lions Square. Eat free parking and signs along the road, so you can also get there by rented car.