Pasiphaë
heroPasiphaë was the queen of Crete whom Poseidon cursed with an unnatural desire for a bull — the mother of the Minotaur and a sorceress in her own right.
The Myth
Daughter of Helios and sister of Circe and Aeëtes, Pasiphaë was a powerful sorceress. When Minos refused to sacrifice Poseidon's bull, the god cursed Pasiphaë. She commissioned Daedalus to build a wooden cow in which she could approach the bull. The Minotaur was born from this union. Pasiphaë also cursed Minos so that he would kill any woman he slept with (scorpions and serpents emerging from his body), except Pasiphaë herself — a uniquely creative revenge.
Parents
Helios and Perse
Symbols
Fun Fact
Pasiphaë was sister to both Circe and Aeëtes — three children of the sun god, all famous for sorcery. Magic ran in the family.
Explore Further
Ariadne
heroDaughter of King Minos who fell in love with Theseus and gave him the thread that allowed him to...
Circe
godA powerful sorceress who lived on the island of Aeaea. Circe transformed Odysseus's men into swine...
Daedalus
heroThe greatest inventor and craftsman of Greek mythology. Daedalus built the Labyrinth, crafted wings...
Helios
godThe Titan who drove the sun chariot across the sky each day, providing light to the world. Helios...
Minos
heroMinos was the legendary king of Crete who ruled the first great maritime empire, commissioned the...
Minotaur
creatureA monster with the body of a man and the head of a bull, imprisoned in the Labyrinth beneath Crete....