Minos
Minos was the legendary king of Crete who ruled the first great maritime empire, commissioned the Labyrinth, and became a judge of the dead in the underworld.
The Legend of Minos
Son of Zeus and Europa, Minos became king of Crete and the most powerful ruler in the Aegean. When Poseidon sent a magnificent bull as a sign of favour, Minos was supposed to sacrifice it but kept it instead. As punishment, Aphrodite (or Poseidon) caused his wife Pasiphaë to desire the bull; Daedalus built the device that enabled the union, and the Minotaur was born. Minos imprisoned the beast in the Labyrinth and demanded tribute from Athens — seven youths and seven maidens — until Theseus, aided by Ariadne, killed it. After death, Zeus appointed Minos a judge in Hades alongside Rhadamanthys and Aeacus.
Parents
Zeus and Europa
Symbols
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
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Minos
🗡 herojudgment
King of Crete who after death became one of three judges of the dead in the Underworld, deciding the fate of souls.
Rhadamanthys
🗡 heroJudge of the dead
Rhadamanthys was a son of Zeus and Europa who became one of the three judges of the dead in the underworld, famed for his perfect justice.
Aeacus
🗡 heroJudge of the dead, grandfather of Achilles
Aeacus was the most pious mortal of his age, whose prayers could end drought and whose justice earned him the role of judge of the dead.
Tenes
🗡 heroPurity, Betrayal, Apollo
Prince of Colonae and first ruler of Tenedos, killed by Achilles despite his divine protection by Apollo.
Neleus
🗡 herokingship
Son of Poseidon and Tyro, founder of Pylos, father of Nestor, killed by Heracles for refusing purification.
Theseus
🗡 heroSlayer of the Minotaur, king of Athens
The hero who navigated the Labyrinth, slew the Minotaur, and became the legendary king of Athens. Theseus was considered Athens's national hero.
Creon
🗡 heroNone recorded
King of Thebes who ruled after Oedipus and decreed death for Antigone
Androgeos
🗡 heroAthletics, sacrifice
Son of King Minos whose murder at Athens caused the tribute of seven youths and seven maidens to the Minotaur
Aepytus
🗡 heroKingship, Arcadia
Arcadian king who was killed by a serpent while attempting to enter the forbidden sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi
Busiris
🗡 heroNone recorded
Egyptian king who sacrificed strangers to Zeus until Heracles broke free and killed him
Amyclas
🗡 heroKingship, Laconia
Legendary king of Sparta and founder of the ancient city of Amyclae near Sparta
Icarius
🗡 heroNone recorded
A legendary king of Sparta and father of Penelope who tried to prevent his daughter from leaving with Odysseus after her marriage