Chapter 17: The Myths Of Crete Flashcards
Who was Agenor?
He was descended from Zeus and Io
What were the names of Agenor’s children?
Europa, Cadmus, Cilix and Phoenix
What were the children of Europa?
Minos, Sarpedon and Rhadamanthys
What did Zeus give Europa to protect her and what did it do?
Talus a giant bronze robot that ran around the island three times each day and threw boulders at any ships that tried to land
Who did Europa marry after Zeus?
A local Cretan named Asterius
When Minos claimed the throne what did he do?
He boasted that Poseidon had promised him the crown and asked for a bull to rise from the sea as sign of his election (he would then sacrifice it).
A bull rose from the sea but Minos decided not to sacrifice it
Who did Minos marry?
Minos married Pasiphae (a daughter of Helius)
What happened to Pasiphae?
As a punishment for the bull not being sacrificed, Poseidon made her fall madly in love with the bull. From this union the Minotaur was born
In what story was Pasiphae’s obscene passion described?
“The Art of Love” by Ovid
Who created the maze to hold the Minotaur?
Daedalus
What happened to Minos’ son Androgeus?
He participated in the Panathenaic contest and was killed by a wild bull
What made Nisus invulnerable?
A certain purple lock that grew on his head
What did Scylla do?
She cut off her father’s (Nisus) hair and proclaimed her love for Minos but he left her. She was then turned into a bird called the shearer
On the voyage to Crete what did Theseus do?
He was challenged to a contest to prove his glorious ancestry. Minos threw a ring into the water and ordered him to retrieve it. Theseus dove in and came back with a wreath from Amphitrite, wife of Poseidon
Who fell in love with and helped Theseus?
Ariadne
