Classics 10: Chapter 17 The Myths of CreteMyths of CreteCrete as Aegean CrossroadsCrete as CrossroadsMinoan Civilization on CreteMinoan CivilizationFresco from Palace at Cnossos: Note the figure vaulting over the back of the bullCretan Myth: BullsMinos and the Bull of the SeaPasiphaë and the Bull of the SeaSlide 11The Minotaur’s LabyrinthPalace of Cnossus as Labyrinth?Androgeus and AthensMinos and ScyllaMinos and AthensTheseus and the MinotaurAriadnê as Cretan Goddess?Titian, Bacchus [Dionysus] and Ariadnê, 1520Daedalus and IcarusThe Death of MinosClassics 10: Chapter 17The Myths of CreteI. Crete: History from ArchaeologyII. Cretan Myth: Bulls and the MinotaurMyths of Crete•Cretan myths = Greek myths, told by Greeks about Crete, NOT told by Cretans•Greeks perhaps emphasizing the evil and the bizarre in what they found on Crete–Stereotype: Cretans = lusty rogues and liars•Cretan society known through archaeology•Cretan myth reflects known archaeology•Clear connection between Crete and Athens, to the advantage of AthensCrete as Aegean CrossroadsCrete as Crossroads•Crete = intersection of trading routes between Greece and Egypt; Greece and Middle EastMinoan Civilization on Crete•Named for King Minos (who was the king at the apex of Crete’s influence?)•Wide trading networks, elaborate palaces•Parallel to Mycenaean culture in Greece•Capital city of Cnossus (or Knossos) destroyed 1450 BCE, likely by invading Mycenaeans•Non-Greek culture then becomes Greek, with Greek language and culture pushing out earlier ideas and practices•Cretan myth a reflection of pre-1450 BCE?Minoan Civilization•Discovered through excavations of Sir Arthur Evans, beginning in 1899–Esp. the palace complex at Cnossus•Palaces big and pleasant, not fortified–Lots of art and high culture–Did not fear foreign invasion? (whoops!)•Bulls an important cultural symbol–Strength and power; fertility ritual–Bull vaulting a developed Cretan sport?Fresco from Palace at Cnossos:Note the figure vaulting over the back of the bullCretan Myth: Bulls•Europa: descended from Io through Epaphus and Libya and then her father Agenor•Zeus smitten with her, appears to her as an especially friendly bull•She climbs on top of this bull, and he manages to swim out into the Aegean, taking her with him•He swims to Crete as the bull, reveals himself, keeps her there as his mistress•Europa bears a son MinosMinos and the Bull of the Sea•Minos will claim the kingship of Crete–As proof of his worthiness, he asks that a great bull should rise from the sea, which he will sacrifice to Poseidon•A splendid bull rises, so splendid that Minos hides it and sacrifices another one•Marries Pasiphaë, a daughter of Helius–Children: Ariadnê, Phaedra, AndrogeusPasiphaë and the Bull of the Sea•Angry that Minos did not sacrifice the bull of the sea to him, Poseidon causes Pasiphaë to lust for the bull•She reveals her desire to the master craftsman Daedalus•He builds a rolling wooden cow in which Pasiphaë crouches out in the pasture•The bull mounts the wooden cow and impregnates Pasiphaë (!)•She bears the man-eating Minotaur, with the head of a bull and the body of a manCretan Myth: BullsEuropa and the Bull Zeus Pasiphaë and Baby (!)The Minotaur’s Labyrinth•Minos ashamed at his stepson and wife, but doesn’t kill Minotaur (hey, he’s family!)•Has Daedalus build a prison for Minotaur–Labyrinth = a maze in which no one who enters could find his way out–Minotaur roams free within it (doesn’t escape?)–Victims sent into labyrinth to be eaten•Idea of the labyrinth inspired by the Palace of Cnossus and its twists and turns?Palace of Cnossus as Labyrinth?Androgeus and Athens•While all this is happening on Crete … •Androgeus (a son of Minos) competes in the Panathenaic games, defeats all the local boys, annoys King Aegeus•Aegeus orders him to fight a wild bull at Marathon and Androgeus is killed–The Cretan bull brought to Greece by Heracles–The bull that fathers the Minotaur–Theseus will later kill this bull•For revenge, Minos attacks Athens with his navyMinos and Scylla•On his way, Minos attacks Megara, ruled by Nisus, a brother of Aegeus•Nisus’ daughter Scylla falls in love with Minos at first sight•Betrays Nisus by cutting off his protective purple lock of hair•The city falls, but Minos abandons her–Note the pattern of this storyMinos and Athens•Minos then moves from Megara to Athens, but cannot capture the city; he prays for Zeus’ help•Zeus helps Minos, sends plague and famine; Athens surrenders to Minos•Athens’ punishment: send regular shipments of boys and girls for the Minotaur to eat•Theseus, newly appeared as the rightful son of Aegeus, volunteers to go and face the Minotaur•Theseus seeks to free Athens from Minos (i.e., liberate Athens from its Cretan master)–Then he can become king of a free cityTheseus and the Minotaur•When Theseus arrives on Crete, Ariadnê (daughter of Minos) falls for him at first sight•She gives him a ball of thread on the suggestion of Daedalus•Theseus unrolls the ball as he hunts the Minotaur, kills him, then follows his trail back out•Theseus then flees with Ariadnê, but he soon dumps her on the island of Naxos–Remember Minos and Scylla in Megara?–Dionysus finds Ariadnê watching Theseus sail awayAriadnê as Cretan Goddess?•Dionysus then marries Ariadnê•Possibly explainable if Ariadnê understood as a Cretan Great Mother figure, snake goddess•The Greek name Ariadnê = “the very holy one”•At right, figure from Cnossus, 1600 BCETitian, Bacchus [Dionysus] and Ariadnê, 1520In Western art, Ariadnê is a damsel in distress rescued by the glorious wine god Dionysus, here portrayed by Titian with full Dionysiac revelryDaedalus and Icarus•Theseus returns to Athens, becomes king•Minos turns on Daedalus because he helped Ariadnê with the ball of thread–Made Pasiphaë’s cow suit in the first place!•Minos imprisons Daedalus and his son Icarus in the Labyrinth•Daedalus makes wings (feathers bound with wax), and escapes by flying out with Icarus•Icarus flies too close to the sun, the wax melts, and he falls into the sea–Clear moral: “Nothing in excess”; avoid the extremesThe Death of Minos•Daedalus now flies to Sicily, court of Cocalus•Minos spends the rest of his life trying to find and punish him, eventually comes to Sicily•Has a trick: who can thread