(adapted from Edith Hamilton, Mythology, New American Library, New York: 1940, 149ff.)
This myth led British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans to his discovery of the Minoan palace at Knossos, Crete in the 1890’s and it illustrates what can happen when myths are taken seriously, i.e. when we assume that they may contain or suggest historical truths that can be empirically verified.
The king of Athens, Aegeus, had a son, Theseus, who was heir to the throne. However, Theseus’ destiny was imperiled by a terrible mistake Aegeus had made. Androgeus, the young son of King Minos of Crete, had been the guest of Aegeus. Aegeus had sent the lad out into the countryside to kill a fierce bull. The bull killed Androgeus instead.
The enraged Minos invaded Athens and pledged to burn it to the ground unless every nine years the Athenians sent him a tribute of seven young men and young women. Athens felt it had no choice but to agree. When the victims reached Crete, they were handed over to a monster, half bull, half man called the Minotaur (offspring of Minos’ queen and a bull) who devoured them.
The Minotaur was confined in a maze called the Labyrinth specially built for him by Minos’ architect, Daedalus. Once inside the twisting passageways it was impossible to find one’s way out. The sacrificial victims were deposited in the Labyrinth where eventually all were found and consumed by the Minotaur.
Theseus stepped forward and volunteered to be one of the first victims. Little did the Athenians know that Theseus had sworn to his father that he was bent on finding a way to kill the Minotaur. When the Athenians were brought to Crete, they were paraded before the people and then led to the Labyrinth. Along the way, Theseus was seen by Minos’ daughter Ariadne, who instantly fell in love with him and begged Daedalus to tell her how Theseus might escape from the Labyrinth. Her request was granted.
Ariadne arranged a secret meeting with Theseus and promised to tell him how to escape if he promised to take her back to Athens and marry her. Theseus, who had in turn fallen in love with Ariadne, readily agreed. Ariadne presented him with the key to his victory: a ball of thread which he was to tie to the entrance of the Labyrinth and unwind as he walked along. In this fashion he would be able to retrace his steps and make good his escape.
Theseus entered the Labyrinth, found the Minotaur sleeping, and with his bare fists killed the monster as it slept. Thus was Athens spared and the deadly curse placed upon it by King Minos lifted.
(In another version of this myth, Ariadne dies. Yet another tells us that Aegeus, having been mistakenly led to believe that Theseus had been killed, throws himself from a cliff into the sea. And still anothervariant reading says that Theseus returns to Athens to become a wise and just ruler).