The Minotaur

I have always been struck by the sad countenance of the Minotaur, trapped in the darkness, master of his obscure world of shadow and melancholy.

Minos, son of the Greek mythological god Zeus and Europa, sought approval from the gods that he should reign as king of Crete. He prayed to Poseidon who sent him a snow white bull as a sign of his blessing on the condition the animal was sacrificed as an offering and symbol of servitude. Minos however secretly kept the bull and sacrificed another from his heard. When Poseidon learned of this he cast a spell on Minos' wife, Pasipha, so she fell in love with the white bull. Their offspring was the Minotaur. The creature had the head and tail of a bull on the body of a man and caused such destruction, a labyrinth was made that would entrap the beast. Every year young people were sacrificed for the Minotaur to feast upon. When Ariadne, Minos's daughter, was chosen to be offered, Theseus, who Ariadne had fallen in love with, traveled to the maze, battled, then defeated the Minotaur. Theseus found his way back through the labyrinth with the help of Ariadne's ball of thread. Theseus then returned to Crete, raising black sails, a sign he had failed in his quest, at which point king Minos threw himself into the sea in despair. Theseus' deception secured him the throne...

The story of the Minotaur says as much about the ruthlessness and destruction of man as it does the Minotaur's ferocity. The Minotaur represents our fear, our unknown or perhaps hidden darkness. In this light the beast is a reflection of our inner struggle, and that there may be moments when we meet this ordinarily concealed creature face to face...