The prophecy

The ending of story of Perseus

The prophecy is fulfilled

      Perseus was a great athlete . He excelled in the discus , in running, in the javelin and wrestling. Some years, the regionals were held on the island of his grandfather , he decided to take part .

The stage was full of athletes and the sports watching crowd, erupted into cheers oftenly .

      First the runners and the wrestlers competed . Then came the turn of discus . Perseus stepped forward , holding tight his disk . First he got the right position and then he threw the disc as hard as he could. The disk hurled away, but a strong wind took it out of its path leading it to hit the King Acrisius and kill him . So finally , a prophecy which was saying that the king would be killed one day by his grandson, was fulfilled,  .

Andromeda

Andromeda in Greek mythology

 With the bag draped on his shoulder, Perseus took the way home, flying over the sea to the southern regions. At some point, looking down he saw a beautiful girl chained to rocks.
Being curious immediately dove as a bird and landed near her. "Who are you and what are you doing here?" he asked.
      "My name is Andromeda," answered the girl and immediately burst into tears. "My mother, the queen, boasted that she is even more beautiful by the Nereids, the Nymphs of the sea. But when the Nereids learned about that, were not happy at all.
So they, complained, to the god of the sea, Poseidon, and he angered so much that he sent a flood and destroyed the country of my father. The only way to stop the evil, is my father to sacrifice me to a sea monster, which can be revealed at any moment".
      Perseus, looked Andromeda dazzled by her beauty and then he glanced the sea beneath his feet. There in the waves he picked out a monster which looked like a serpent, with enormous eyes and mouth wide open.
      Perseus was raised in the air, approached  flying the monster and hit it with his sword. The monster swooped to grab Perseus with its claws, but he avoid it and prepared for a new attack. This time, the blow was fatal. The monster fell in the sea with horrible pains. Perseus gave it a final strike and killed it, and it was lost  forever in the waves.
      Then Perseus flew again near Andromeda, broke the chains that had tied down and freed her. Then he escorted her to the palace of her father, king Cepheus. The king rejoiced so much that his daughter escaped from the monster and turned back safe, that he gave a great feast in honor of Perseus. He also promised to give Andromeda as his wife .
      Then the two young returned to Serifos and Perseus took Andromeda to meet his mother. She was so happy that her son came back hale and strong, but looked to be sad. "What is wrong?" Perseus asked her. "When you were away, Polydectes forced me to agree to marry him. Tomorrow is the wedding," she replied.
      Perseus outraged,ran into the palace to meet the king. Polydekctes was surprised because he did not expect that Perseus would return. "Here!I brought you the head of Medusa," said Perseus and carefully took the head out of the bag, and held it before the king. Immediately Polydectes and his friends were transformed into stone statues.
      Then, Perseus gave the throne to the king's brother, who ruled the island wisely. Finally, he returned the helmet, the winged sandals, the sword and the bag, back to the gods, after having thanked them for their useful gifts. Once everything had finished, he married Andromeda and they lived happily for many, many years.

Medusa's head

Medusa's head

Polydektes knew that many people had tried but none managed to kill Medusa , that awful monster instead of hair had snakes and anyone who dared to look at her ,  became stone. So the king was sure that neither Perseus could do it .

      Perseus did not hear the words of Polydektes without fear. But he could not refuse the challenge. " I'll go and bring you the head of Medusa " he said.

      The gods were watching Perseus and decided to help him. While he was getting started to find Medusa,  appeared before him, the goddess Athena .She gave him a shield and showed him how to use it . Hermes gave him a couple winged sandals to travel quickly , a helmet that made him invisible a sickle and a bag .

Perseus accepted all these gifts and flew over the sea to the mountains of the north, where lived the Gorgon Medusa. Finally he landed in a valley full of rocks and followed the path which was leading to the cave where the monster was . Statues of brave men, were raised around,they had looked Medusa and became turned into stone. Silence prevailed around. Neither animals or birds were approaching these places.

      Once arrived in the cave, Perseus did what he was advised by Athena. He looked through the sparkling shield trying to use it as a mirror. Then he distinguished Medusa.

The monster had such a horrible look that he started shivering from fright. She heard the footsteps, but did not see him because he was wearing the helmet that made him invisible. She came crawling out of the cave, while the snakes on her head whistled tremendously through their forked tongues.

      With eyes fixed on the shield, Perseus made ​​a leap forward. Then he raised his scythe and cut off the head of Medusa. A terrible scream was heard and the monster fell dead.

Perseus lifted her head without looking at it, because even now it could transform him into stone. Then he dropped her head into the bag and for greater security, tightly tied the bag with a rope.

Perseus the beginning

 The begin of the adventures of Perseus

 On the island Seriphos, a day that the wind blew strongly, washed ashore a wooden chest.It was found by a fisherman, when he open the lid he was surprised to see inside a woman with a baby in her arms. She was the royal Danae with her ​​son, Perseus.
      Danae was locked up by her father to prevent her by getting pregnant.However,Zeus transformed into goldern shower managed to get her pregnant.
       King Acrisius,the king of Argos, closed them in a chest, because he was told by an oracle that he would be killed someday by his grandson. Because he could not bear to kill his daughter and his grandson, Perseus, so he put them in a chest and threw them into the sea.
      The fisherman took Danae and Perseus to the king of the island, Polydektes, who treated them very kindly and generous. When Perseus grew up he became a clever and strong young man. But he was not happy, because Polydektes wanted to marry his mother.

      But she did not want him at all for her husband, although she felt very grateful to him.
Polydektes believed that if he could get rid of Perseus, Danae would change her mind. Well he called Perseus and told him friendly: "Perseus, you live  many years in my palace and you have grown up. It is time to prove how brave and strong man you have become. I want you to bring me the head of the Gorgon  Medusa."

Bellerophon

Bellerophon and the winged horse

      Bellerophon was a prince, who had been banished from his country and lived in the court of King Proetus. He was having a  well and good time, until the day the queen complained to her husband, that the young and charming prince had insulted her. The king, who did not know that this was a lie, got furious. At first he wanted to kill him, but then he thought if he hurt a guest, the gods would be angry with him and he would have terrible consequences.
      Then he found another way to get rid of him. Asked  him to deliver a letter to the king of Lycia, Iobates. Bellerophon willingly accepted to go, without knowing what was within this letter, Proetus demanded Iobates to kill him.

      When after a long and dangerous journey, Bellerophon arrived in Lycia, Iobates welcomed him very warmly. He  put aside the letter of  Proetus and remembered it after nine whole days. When he read it, realised that he also could not kill  Bellerophon.
He was his guest. Besides, in the meantime they became friends.
      Then he thought to send him to face Chimera, a monster with lion's head, body of a goat and serpent's tail. "I need your help," said to Bellerophon. "Go, please, release my kingdom from the Chimera.It  kills my people and destroys their fields. None of the men i sent so far, could kill that monster.  I'm sure you will succeed."
      However, inside him, he was confident that Chimaera would kill Bellerophon even before he could stretch his bow, as  it had killed all the others, .
      The young prince, wanting to thank Iobates, while he was preparing to go to fight Chimera, he was approached by a wise old man. "If you want to kill this monster," he said, "You must ride Pegasus, the horse with the long white wings. Nobody until now was able to tame it."
      Bellerophon did not know if he had to believe the words of the wise old man,so he was standing undecided, when was presented in front of him the goddess Athena. "Take these," she said, and put in his hand a pair of golden reins and disappeared before he could thank her.
      One afternoonm,while it was getting dark, Bellerophon saw Pegasus drinking water in a creek. He approached it very carefully, passed the reins and hold it tight. The animal began to wheeze, started bouncing and kicking but could not escape.
      When he finally calmed down, Bellerophon jumped spry on his back and Pegasus immediately opened his wings and was lifted into the air.
They began to fly all over the country, passing mountains and plains, lakes and rivers, until Bellerophon saw Chimera. He pulled the reins and Pegasus landed immediately.
      Secured on the horse's back, Bellerophon dodged the fire that gushed from the mouth of the monster and the poison that dripped its tail. He stretched nippy his bow and shot an arrow at the side and one in the mouth. And the monster, Chimera, was instantly killed.
When Bellerophon turned back, everyone greeted him as a hero and Iobates to thank him, wed him with his daughter and gave them ​​as gifts many good estate. In subsequent years, he continued to be known for his brave acts and everyone worshiped and admired him, saying that he looked like a god.
      He started  to believe it also, then he had an idea, because he looked like a god, to go and visit the gods. So he jumped on the back of Pegasus and flew to Olympus. But Zeus, the father of the gods became very angry with the arrogance of Bellerephon and he sent a gadfly which sting Pegasus, making ​​him go rampage and threw Bellerophon from his back. Certainly, Zeus saw him falling, but did nothing to help him. Bellerophon was not killed, only wounded. Alone now and unhappy, wandered the country without anybody paying him any attention at all. Who dared to approach someone, who had made Zeus so much angry?

Echo and Narcissus

Echo and Narcissus in Greek mythology

      Echo was a nymph, a forest fairy,she was speaking endlessly and walked among the trees, laughing loudly.One day the goddess Hera was annoyed by the noise she was making and commanded her to be quiet, but she could not obey. Thus, when Hera discovered that apart from her chatter Echo was also telling to many lies,she got very angry.
      Shaking her finger menacingly told her curtly "I am very angry with the noise you do. Henceforth,you  will not be able to talk anymore.
You will only be able to repeat what the others say." Echo opened her mouth to complain but she could not say anything. Could no longer speak at all.
      "Now you are free to go",Hera commanded her."To go" repeated Echo.
Terrified she wandered in forests lonely and unhappy, since no longer anyone wanted to be her friend.
One day as she walked there, she met Narcisse. Echo hide behind some bushes to observer him better. The young man was so beautiful that she fell in love with him at first sight.
      From that day she followed him everywhere, became his shadow. At first he did not gave importance, because he was used to girls to fall in love with him and had learned their antics. Sometime, however he got flustered, because wherever he went, he met Echo in front of him.
      "Go away, i dont love you", he shouted. "I love you, i love you", repeated Echo. "Leave me alone", continued Narcissus. "Alone,alone", she replied.
      Sad and unhappy,she wandered in the forests and as the time passed, she was getting weaker and paler. Nothing had left from the old Echo, except her voice, which was repeating only the words of the others.
      Narcissus didn't even notice her absence even though he heard sometimes,her voice .Then the goddess Artemis decided to punish him for his cruelty and his arrogance. One day while he was sitting at the shore of a lake,the goddess made him bend over and look at himself. His face mirrored at the dark water of the lake, but he didn't realise that it was he, because never before he had looked in the mirror. And because he had not seen before such a beautiful face, he fell in love with it.
      The days were passing and Narcissus could not take his eyes from his reflection, which was mirrored at the lake.
      Neither he understood, because every time he was speaking, the lips of the other face were also moving. One day he tried to kiss his reflection, but once he touched the water, his image disappeared behind the playful wavelets.Once the water calmed , he saw his image again. Many times he requested his reflection to get out and love him as he did. But nothing ever happened.
      Narcissus could not stand it anymore. And he was not used to be rejected,so one day being downhearted, commited suicide. There where his body fell, a beautiful,white and tall flower grew. That flower we call it Narcissus, and it always blooms in spring.

Arachne

The story of Arachne in Greek mythology 

    Arachne(gr.spider) sitting in front of her loom,was weaving magnificent designs with lustrous threads.While working she was smiling and singing a cheerful song.All the people from her village and the surrounding villages came to see the wonderful wefts which the young lady made. The praises that she heard about her skill,made her happy but also made her  very cocky.
      One day she braged to an old lady by saying "I can weave even better than goddess Athena".
"Hush!!The goddess might hear you",whispered the old lady.
"I dont care!",Arachne said loudly.

     Everyone knew that it was very dangerous to talk that way about the gods and the goddesses.If they heard something they didnt like,they could play dangerous games with people.
At that moment,in front of the door at the Arachne's house,Athena showed up.Arachne flnched and kneel infront of the weaving goddess.But her look was still full of pride."I think i heard you mention my name and i came to see your wefts",said Athena.A smile was painted at her face,but the tone of her voice was icy.Anyone who would hear her would run scared far away. Athena looked the weft which was lying on the loom and said"Yes,i admit it is very good!"
"Can you weave better?" Arachne dared to asked.
"We will see",replied the goddess."We will compete,you and me and we will see".
Athena and Arachne  at on their looms and weaved for many days.They used the most lustrous threads and created original designs.When they finished,they took the wefts and lay them on the ground next to each other.Everybody came to see and admire them and try to distinguish which one was better.
     Athena stook and looked silent.Both were the same gorgeous.The weft of Athena,depicted the gods punishing the people who didnt show respect,while the weft of Arachne  howed the gods with their meanness and their weaknesses and was making fun of them.That provoked the goddess and made her very angry.Outraged she shouted "If you can weave so good,i will make you weave continuously.But the wefts you will make,will not ever anybody want!".
     She pushed Arachne  slightly and threw her on the ground,she shrank and became a tiny little thing with eight legs,which run away and hide in a dark corner.The goddess had transformed her into a spider.
     Since then spider and her descendants weave wonderful nets.You can see them hanging at the dark corners or if you wake up,you can see them shining in the morning dew.

King Midas

The story of king Midas in Greek mythology

      Midas was a fool and greedy king,but when he wanted,he could be kind and generous.One day the old-Silinus who was a satyr,visited the king's palace.The satyrs had body of a goat and human head.As he was tired and hungry from his traveling around the hills and mountains,asked from Midas to host him.And he did it,he treated him very well and gave him to eat the best food.
    But,Silinus was one of the companions of the god Dionysus and the god was very happy,from the treatment of king Midas to the satyr.So,one day Dionysus visited him "Tell me what you wish mostly and i will make your wish come true,whatever you want",he said.
The king after some thinking replied to the god by saying,"Whatever i touch,i want it to turn into gold".But the god told him that could be dangerous and asked him if that was his final decision. "Yes,that's what i want",responded Midas."Very well,your wish is granted" said Dionysus and disappeared.
   When Midas was left alone,he looked around and touched the table.Instantly the table became gold,"Lovely",shouted, Midas "I will become the richest man in the world",he continued.After that he started touching every object he could find in the palace,and everything turn into gold.
   Then he ordered to prepare him,a richy meal.When they placed the food on the table and he tried to take a plate,it became golden.Also,when tried to eat,the food became gold.He felt so anxious,realised that he can't eat nor drink anything.
   In the same time,his son came in,asking "What happened to the palace father?",Midas touched him at his shoulders and wright away,the young boy transformed into a golden statue.The fool king shouted,"What have i done!"  and burst into tears.
   At the night,Midas being lonely and hungry begged Dionysus to save him,before he die from starvation.
"I have warned you" the god said,who appeared suddenly infront of him."Tomorrow go and wash in the river and everything will be as before.And let what happened to you,become a lesson".
  When dawned,Midas run fasta at the river and dip into the water.When he came out,touched the shore,but nothing happened,the shore was as before,full with mad."I am saved.." sighed with relief.When he returned to his palace,he saw that everything was like before and his son came running to welcome him.
  Midas has stopped being greedy,but he still was fool.Someday god Apollo and god Pan compete to see who plays the better music.Apollo played so beautifully with his lyre that even the birds stopped singing,to listen his music.Pan played a sad and maudlin music."The winner is Apollo" said the judge.But king Midas,who also had heard them playing, shouted "Pan was better!".
  God Apollo gor angry and said "It seems that your ear are to small and can't hear good.I will make them bigger!" and with his finger pointed the head of Midas.
  The king put his hands on his head and grope two big ears,as the donkey.He covered them with his coat and run to the palace.There he was wearing a tall skull cap,which was hiding his ears and which he didnt take off ever when he went to sleep.
   The time was passing and the king's hair grew.He had to get a haircut.So,he called his barber and made him swear that he wont say anything to anyone about his ears."If you say anything,you will die",the king said.
   At the begining,the barber didnt say anything.But as the time passed he wanted to tell someone about the king's mishap.When he could not anymore keep it secret,went to the shore of the river and dug a hole,bended over it and whispered"The king has donkey's ears".And covered the hole with soil.
   Spring came,the shore was full of reeds and as the gentle wind was playing with them,they were whispering whistling softly,"The king has donkey ears,The king has donkey ears".That way the secret of king Midas was known to everyone.

Fire

Prometheus and the gift of fire

The very old time in Greek mythology,the gods and goddesses of the Greek were living in palaces built at the top of the mount Olympus.Leader of the gods,- father of the gods and human- as they called him,was Zeus.He was wise and powerful.But he was also cruel and could offen show his cruelty.He used his thunderbolts when he was getting angry,so even the other gods were afraid of him.Zeus was married with Hera and they had many children.
  The first years the gods ruled an almost empty world ,there lived only animals and were no human beings.The animals were created by the brother of Prometheus,Epimetheus,but he didnt know how to create people.

  One day Zeus asked Prometheus to create human,to live in the world.So,Prometheus took some clay,gave shape to it and created the people,men and women.He made them to look like the gods and by blowing in their mouth,gave them life.
  People were living nicely but they didn't have fire,because Zeus didn't want to give them.But,Prometheus loved the people and was pity of them,becasue they shiverd at the cold nights,they couldnt see in the dark and they ate their food raw.
  So,one day he went to Olympus,sneaked into the Palace of Zeus and took a piece of lit coal.He gave that piece to the people and tought them how to light fire.Since then human learnt to cook their food,they could stay warm in the cold night and could see in the dark.People were thankful to Prometheus and never forgot his special gift he gave them.
  When the smell of the cooked food,reached Olympus,and the light in the night could be seen,Zeus figured out what Prometheus had done.Zeus,outraged,shouted with a voice which sounded like a thunderstrike,"How dare you do that Prometheus!Ignore my orders,be prepared for your punishment!"
  In order to punish Prometheus,Zeus ordered to leash him with chains to the slope of a huge mountain,Caucasus.Everyday and eagle was eating his liver and ever night his liver grew back.Prometheus was in horrible pain,but he could not die,because as a god,he was immortal.His torture lasted for many ages,until Zeus decided to forgive him and released him.

Pandora

Pandora's Box in Greek mythology

      Zeus was very angry with the people, because they had accepted, with such pleasure the gift of fire from Prometheus,so he decided to punish them.

He called the other gods and all together created a woman,she was so pretty, as a picture and so intelligent,they named her,Pandora.

     So,the mighty god send Pandora to Epimetheus,by telling him:"She is your wife,Epimitheus.We gift her to you,because you created all the animals of the earth".

Zeus gave to Pandora and Epimitheus a sealed box.And told them:"Take this box,keep it in a safe place and never try to open it."

Epimitheus thanked Zues and turned to look Pandora.He was so charmed by her beauty,that he forgot the warning of his brother,Prometheus,never accept gifts from the other gods.

So,he married Pandora and hide the box in a dark room in his house.

    Pandora was living happily wuth Epimitheus.Everything,around her were beautiful,no one got sick or old.Everybody were happy.But,that was not enough for her,she was thinking all the time about the sealed box.She thought"What could be inside it?"Maybe jewels or any other precious objects?"

So,she asked Epimitheus,smiling at him"Let's take a look".But Epimitheus being sad,refused,by telling her that Zeus warned them,never to open it.He wanted to please her,but he also was feared the wrath of Zeus.

   Pandora kept asking Epimitheus everyday to open the box,but he refused to her everyday.

So,one day that Epimitheus was not home,Pandora went to the room where the box was,stood there and kept looking to it.And then she decided to open it.Grabbed  a tool,broke the seal,gathered all her courage and opened it slowly.Without even having time to look inside the box,terrifying voices and sounds were heard,so many crying and shout,it was like the end of the world.Pandora was scared and flinched back.Outside of the box got every horrible things,like hatred and envy,the cruelty and anger,the starvation and poverty,pain and sickness,senescense and death.

  Pandora tried to close the box,but it was to late.Everything that caused misery to the people,was thrown out from the box.However,at the end came out something little and cute,it was hope.People would suffer from many disaster but now they would have hope, so they would never give up.

The return trip

The return of the heroes to their homeland

     The gods were angered by the destruction of the temples and the general insults that the Achaeans commited. While the fleet was returning ,near Tinos broke an intense storm . In one version , Nauplios,in order to avenge misled their  fleet by sending wrong signals with the mirror from the cape of Kafirea Evia ( Cavodoro ) having as result to sink many ships.
Nestor , who was the most pious and moral character in the campaign , he had safe and quick return to home. The Ajax Locri was punished by Athena , while Athena borrowed a thunderbolt of Zeus and fired him up.



     The Teucer , son of Telamon and half-brother of Ajax, stood trial for not preventing the death of his brother and was forbidden to return home .Finaly he never returned and founded Salamis of Cyprus. Later the Athenians claimed that  as Teucrus left,  handed over the authority,to the sons of Theseus.


Neoptolemos followed the advice of Helenos and both took the land tract,to their return home. During the trip he met Odysseus in the land of Kikonon , and bury the teacher of Achilles, Phoenix.
     Then he ended up to the land of Molossos,Epirus and had a son with Andromache , Molossos, who became his successor in the region. For this later kings of Epirus , and Alexander the Great claimed to be descendants of Achilles .
     Diomedes after a storm ended up in Lycia , there the king Likos(wolf) wanted to sacrifice him to Ares , but the king's daughter Callirhoe took pity on him and helped him to escape. Then he got in Attica, where the Athenians not knowing that he was their ally,attacked him. Finally  Diomedes arrived at Argos, where he discovered that his wife Aegialeia, was committing adultery .Outraged he,left for Aetolia. According to some sources he passed through the southern Italy, where he founded a number of cities .
     Philoctetes emigrated to Sicily, where he founded a number of cities between Croton and Thurii . After military conflicts with the local populations founded the temple of Apollo where he dedicated the bow of Hercules .
     According to Homer , Idomeneus reached secure in his native, Crete . In another version, the ship sailed into a heavy storm and Idomeneus promised Poseidon that will sacrifice the first person to be seen at home if he would return home unharmed . The first person he saw , however, was his son , whom he sacrificed .          Eventually the gods were enraged and pestilence broke out in Crete, and the people sent him to exile in Calabria in Italy from where he subsequently ended to Colophon in Asia Minor, where he died.
Than their less eminent Achaeans very few reached their homelands.

The siege of Troy

The Siege of Troy

Arrival in Troy

Calchas predicted that the first Achaean who would set foot in the Trojan land will be the first casualty of thewar. Thus even Achilles hesitated to attempt it. Odysseus from his ship, threw his shield on the shore and jumped over on his shield.He was followed by Protessilaos, the leader of Thessaly guard who stepped first on the Trojan land. Achilles landed second and killed the Swan, son of Poseidon. The Trojans finally forced to retreat behind their walls. Protessilaos killed many Trojans but finally killed by Hector (or other sources say he got killed by Agate and the other by Euphorvos). The Achaean bury their first dead with great prices in Thrace, across the Hellespont. After the death of Protesilaos, his brother, Podarkis took part in the war, thus replenishing the loss.

The Greeks besieged Troy for ten years. The more information was saved the last year of the war, with the result we have less information  for the first nine years of the war. After the initial landing and their consolidation in the coastal zone of Troy they began to plunder the countryside, conquering adjacent to Troy ally towns, even loot the opposite Thracian coast. Troy did not get a combined mass siege and as the ninth year in business and communication with the mainland of Asia continued undisturbed. On their side the Greeks accepted significant military aid even before the war ended. However they failed to penetrate the hinterland and to surround the Trojans, who kept contact even with their allies on the European shore.

The campaigns of Achilles

Achilles was the most active of the Achaean hero. According to Homer, captured 11 cities and 12 islands. According to Apollodorus pillaged the country of Aeneas in the Troad region and stole his cattle. Also occupied the Lyrnisso, the Pidasso, Lesvos, Colophon Clazomenai and many other neighboring cities, also killed the minor Troilus, son of Priam. There was oracle said that if Troilos reached 20, Troy would not fall ever. John Kakridis Homeric analyst, says that the list of achievements is wrongly vastly extensive, south of Troy.

Among the spoils of looting were the priestesses Briseis, from Lyrnisso and Cressida, from Ippoplakies Thebes, which was offered to Agamemnon. Achilles captured Lycaon and, one of the sons of Priam. Patroclus sold him later as a slave in Lemnos, but bought him the Aetion of Imbros and returned to Troy. Eventually killed by Achilles 12 days after the death of Patroclus.

The death of Palamedes

Odysseus sometime sent to Thrace to bring wheat, but returned empty-handed. This provoked the contempt of Palamedes , who took his own initiative and was finally able to provide the Achaean army with large quantities of wheat.

Odysseus always watched him suspiciously Palamides especially since he had put his son's life in danger. Organized a whole plot to be blamed unjustly : he wrote a fake letter,supposedly Priam to Palamedes , and buried gold near Palamedes tent. The letter and gold , by the plan of Odysseus discovered by the Achaeans and Agamemnon ordered the death by stoning as the evidence for the alleged betrayal seemed irrefutable .

The father of Palamedes , Nafplio, when learned the news rushed to Troy and demanded the justice to be done , though he was not listened . As revenge , he traveled to all the palaces of the Achaean kings, and spread their wives that their husbands had already contracted relationships with concubines Trojan women , in order to make them official wives when they return to their homeland . Many queens believing Nauplios broke their ties with the most typical case of Clytemnestra , wife of Agamemnon , contracted an affair with Aegisthus , son of Thyestes . Exception was Penelope , which remained faithful to Odysseus.

Apostasy of the Greek soldiers

When approaching the end of the ninth year, the army of the Greeks, exhausted by the long conflict and the lack of supplies, refused to obey the orders of their leaders and demanded to return home. In "Cyprus", Achilles forced the soldiers to stay. According to Apollodorus, to solve the problem of supply, Agamemnon brought growers of vineyards the daughters of Anios (granddaughters of Apollo), which magically produced wine, olives and wheat with just a touch.

The Trojan horse

The war ended with a special trick. Odysseus devised to build a large -size replica hollow wooden horse , the Trojan Horse . The horse was an animal sacred to the Trojans believed would we moved as a talisman , inside their city after they had prepared all the conditions that would give the impression that the Greeks left permanently. Was made by engineer Epios,under the guidance of Athena and abroad bore the inscription:

" Dedicated to Athena by the Greeks to return home "

In the Trojan Horse stepped in an Achaean group led by Odysseus, while the rest of the army burned the camp so the Trojans believe that the Greeks left forever , and sailed for Tenedos .

The next morning, the Trojans discovered that the rival camp was abandoned . In their enthusiasm, believed that the ten-year war has ended and felt it necessary to move the Trojan Horse in the inner city . Some individual Trojans considered it as damned and that must throw it off the cliff or burn it.

Priam's daughter Cassandra and the priest of Poseidon Laokoon warned that the horse  would bring only disaster to the city.  But while Cassandra had clairvoyance, from Apollo to anticipate events,also had the curse because she broke her promise to be given to him,so she was not able to persuade anyone. In particular Laocoon and his two sons were attacked by huge sea snakes which drowned them in the sea. Aeneas and his followers believing these predictions retreated to Mount Ida. The Trojans finally full of enthusiasm decided to transfer  the Trojan Horse within the walls of the city. Indeed, because it was quite large manufacturers were forced to demolish a portion of the main gate of the city, the "Sky Gate." Immediately after the went to the streets to celebrate the successful outcome of the war. At midnight,Sinon, an Achaean spy, signaled the Achaean fleet at Tenedos to approach, at the same time the soldiers in the Trojan Horse came out and killed the guards.

The Fall of Troy

The Greeks entered the city and killed its population while they were sleeping in their homes . The massacre continued the next day. Any Trojans anticipated , fought desperate with great stubbornness , although found startled , disorganized and without a leader to guide them . Some defenders hurled pieces of the roofs of their houses on the damaged  streets of the city to prevent the intruders . Finally , the last defenders were lost in the whirlwind of destruction and massacres .

Neoptolemus killed Priam who had fled as suppliant in the temple of Zeus. Menelaus killed Diifovo , the husband of Helen and moved to kill Helen but once he saw her beauty he lowered his sword and forgave her infidelity.

The Ajax Lokrian raped Cassandra in the temple of Athena. Because of this hubris decided by the Achaeans , with the encouragement of Odysseus, to stone him to death , but he fled to the sanctuary of Athena and saved.

Antenor, who had hosted Menelaus and Odysseus when they had sent an embassy to ask Helen, was not altered neither he nor his family. The Trojan Aeneas took his helpless father in the back and fled. According to Apollodorus, was allowed to leave because of his moral character.

The Greeks razed the city and divided the spoils. Cassandra was given to Agamemnon, Andromache to Neoptolemus and Hecuba Odysseus.

The Greeks threw Astyanax, the infant child of Hector from the city walls in order to prevent possible revenge when he came of age. Also sacrificed Polyxena on the grave of Achilles as demanded by oracles.

The Aethra, Theseus' mother had come to Troy with Helen, old anymore, was saved by her  grandsons, Demophon and Akamas.

The prophecy about the war

At the end of the tenth year, an oracle said that Troy will fall only with the bow of Hercules, which was in the possession of Philoctetes who was on Lemnos. For this purpose Odysseus and Diomedes brought him in Troas, in between whose wound had healed . During the upcoming clashes Philoctetes killed Paris with this arc.

According to Apollodorus, Helenus and Diifovos asked the hand of Helen. Diifovos eventually prevailed and Helenus retired to Mount Ida. Calchas knew that Helenus knew about the coming destruction of Troy, so Odysseus chased and captured him. Eventually forced after interrogation to confess that the Greeks would win only if they brought the remains of Pelops, as they did.

Cause of the Trojan war

The cause of the Trojan war

Zeus learned from either Themis or Prometheus , after his release from Hercules , that like his father Saturn , and he will be overthrown by a son. Another version says that a son of the sea goddess Thetis , whom Zeus fell in love , would become more important than his father. For one of these reasons Thetis married the elderly mortal King Peleus , son of Aeacus , or either by the instigation of Zeus or the desire of Hera . All the gods were invited to the wedding , and brought gifts except Eris , which by order of Zeus was not allowed to approach because she always caused divisions and upset . Eris affected , flew to the wedding venue a golden apple ( the Apple of Discord ) which wrote, to the prettiest . The apple claimed by Hera , Athena and Aphrodite .



The conflict was very intense and no other god risked to express an opinion supporting any of the three, because it would provoke the wrath of the remaining two. Eventually, Zeus ordered Hermes to lead the goddesses to Paris, prince of Troy. The Paris then living as a shepherd on Mount Ida and being unaware of his royal origin, because he was abandoned from his family when he was an infant because an oracle said that he would cause the destruction of the city. The goddesses appeared to him naked and because he was  not able to choose, they offered him gifts to chose: Athena will offer wisdom and skill in battle, Hera leadership and guiding the crowds, while Aphrodite offered the love of the most beautiful woman in the world, the beautiful Helen, queen of Sparta. So Paris gave the apple to Aphrodite. Later he returned to Troy, where he was acknowledged  as a member of his family.

Meanwhile Peleus and Thetis had a son and named him Achilles. According to a prophecy, Achilles would die as an old man and who lived a quiet life or would die young at the battlefield, but would gain immortality and his exploits would written  through the centuries. When Achilles was nine years old, the seer Calchas predicted that Troy would not fall again without his help. Some sources state that Thetis tried to make him immortal while still an infant: every night put him over the fire to burn the mortal flesh and every day anoint him with ambrosia. But when Peleus discovered it prevented her out of fear for the liefe of Achilles. Another source says that Thetis bathed Achilles in the Styx, in the Underworld making him immortal in the places where  the water of the river touched him.But, because she was holding him by the heels, that point remained vulnerable (Achilles heel). As he came of age he became one of the most skilled warriors. Due to the prophecy of Calchas, Thetis hid Achilles in Skyros at the palace of King Likomidis, dressed him female not to be recognized.

The most beautiful woman in the world then was thought Helen , one of the daughters of Tyndareus , king of Sparta. Her mother Leda had enchantered by Zeus , transformed into a swan , which is why some sources refer to Zeus as her father. Helen because of her exceptional beauty had many suitors , but was unwilling to choose one with the fear that she would anger the other .
Finally, a suitor, Odysseus of Ithaca, proposed a way to resolve the issue. Proposed that all suitors to defend Helen's marriage at all costs, regardless of whom you choose the same. The suitors finally swore to observe this condition as a condition for the possibility to be selected as spouses of Helen.
Finaly Tyndareus chose Menelaus, the choice was made for reasons of political expediency, since he had riches and power. In fact, his candidacy was not submited by himself but his brother Agamemnon on his behalf. Menelaus with his marriage to Helen succeeded Tyndareus at the throne of Sparta. Subsequently strengthened, and the position of Agamem
non, who married the sister of Helen, Clytemnestra and recaptured the throne of Mycenae.

And it's time to fulfill the promise of Aprodite. While Menelaus was at one version to Crete to bury his brother Krateo, Paris, the guest of Menelaus or in other fleet admiral against Greece, kidnapped with the help of Aphrodite Helen with her will (at  other version with violence initially) and sailed to Troy having grabbed the treasures of Menelaus. Hera tried to prevent them causing storms, which led the love couple in Egypt. The myth of Helen is probably attributed to the poet Stesichorus, in the 6th century BC. The ship finally arrived toTroy, after passing through the Sidon of Phoenicia.

The abduction of Helen by Paris was not the only similar event in the world of Greek Mythology. Previously, Io was abducted from Mycenae, Europe from Phoenicia, Jason kidnapped Medea from Colchis, Troas Isione was kidnapped by Hercules, who had offered her  to Telamon of Salamis. According to Herodotus, Paris did not expect some revenge by Menelaus, as neither the oldest abductions had caused severe reactions. According to mythology, Troy was besieged and conquered before, by Hercules, who immediately put on the throne the then young Priam.

Trojan War

The Trojan War in Greek mythology

The Trojan War in Greek mythology was a decade warfare, the Greeks (Achaeans or Argives or Danaans by Homer) with the Trojans under the walls of Troy. The main cause of the war was the abduction of Helen, wife of the king of Sparta, Menelaus from the Trojan prince Paris. This war is one of the main events in Greek mythology and was a source of inexhaustible inspiration in ancient Greek literature, including the works of Homer: the Iliad, which recounts a period of the last year of the war and the Odyssey, which recounts the journey back to his homeland of Odysseus, one of the Achaean leaders. Other facts about the Trojan War described in the Trojan epic cycle from which they were rescued only snippets. Events of the war also inspired the ancient Greek tragedy, Latin literature and many newer works of literature, visual arts and music.
The causes of war are reduced to divine conflict between Athena, Hera and Aphrodite, which caused Eris by giving them a golden apple with the display "to the most beautiful" . Zeus wanting to give solution to the dispute over who deserves the apple, did not refer to the Trojan prince Paris who selected Aphrodite.  As a reward for his judgment , Aphrodite rewarded him by making Helen the most beautiful mortal woman fall in love with him and follow him to Troy. Immediately after the abduction  , Agamemnon , king of Mycenae and the brother of Helen's husband , Menelaus , led a generalized campaign of the Greeks and besieged Troy for ten years. After the deaths of many heroes, like Achilles and Ajax of Telamon and the Trojans Hector and Paris , the city was captured thanks to the ruse of the Trojan Horse . The occupation of the city by the Achaeans accompanied by slaughter and complete the destruction and desecration of the holy . This action provoked the wrath of the gods , who avenged many of the survivors Achaean kings . Very few of them were able to continue peaceful life in their home . The Romans believed that the Trojan hero Aeneas after the fall of the city fled to Lazio in the Italian peninsula and that he is considered as their ancestor .



The ancient Greeks believed that the Trojan War (like most events of mythology) was a historic event that took place in the 13th or 12th century BC and that Troy is located on the Asian side of the Hellespont (Dardanelles). Once in 1870, the German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann after excavations discovered until then, completely mythical Troy. Today the entire archaeological community agrees that indeed this particular location is Troy, and that certainly is one historic core,about the war. The question now is whether some particular facts and persons recounted was real or just fabrications. Researchers have argued that the date given by the ancient historian Eratosthenes: 1194-1184 BC, is the most representative, and agrees with archaeological evidence suggesting that in the city then broke disastrous fire and specifically in the layer of VIIa  Troy. 

Cyclops

Cyclops in Greek mythology

The Cyclopes were mythical creatures of Greek mythology and Roman mythology with an eye in the middle of the forehead. Moreover the word cyclops comes from the composition of two words, bud and cycle and identifies a creature with a single eye in the forehead.

Cyclops of Odyssy

The first category refers to a people of monstrous men, sons of Neptune, they had  a single eye in the middle of their forehead. Mentioned in the Odyssey as  residents, probably on the island of Sicily, in the Western Mediterranean. Savages, without any evidence of culture and social organization,they killed (and ate) those approaching their territory.
Odysseus and his sailors got to  the coast and were trapped in the cave of the strongest of them, of Polyphemus. Finally after a notorious trick of Odysseus they blinded the Cyclop and managed to escape, but not without casualties.

Cyclops of mythology

The second category concerns a triad of monstrous deities which appear in Hesiod and are children of Uranus and Gaea. These are three:Vrontis(thunder),Argis(slow) and Asteropis(star). They have tremendous power and therefore imprisoned in Tartarus by Uranus, being regarded as threatening his power. Subsequently, Saturn and the Titans released them, to help in the fall of Uranus but when they come to power,were again imprisoned in Tartarus.

Finally, Zeus and the Olympians released them again and with their help bowl over the Titans at Titanomachy, thanks to the weapons (the lightning, the thunder, and others) thatconstructed under the supervision of Hephaestus in the Etna. When Zeus comes to power he entrust them the custody of the Titans inTartarus and they, in return gifted him,the lightning and thunder, thereafter were the trademarks of Zeus. To Artemis they gifted the hunting bow.
The Cyclops were killed by Apollo in order to avenge  Zeus, for  the death of Asclepius. Thanks to medical healing abilities Asclepius, son of Apollo, brought back to life many dead and therefore for punishment Zeus killed him with thunder.

The Cyclops of prehistory

The third category refers to a people of gigantic people to whom the Greeks of the classical era attributing the creation of giant walls that their remnants preserved in many parts of the country. Obviously, these walls were built in the heyday of the societies of the Mycenaean period.
Strabo mentions that the Cyclopes came from Lycia and build walls and other structures at Tiryns and Mycenae, known as the Cyclopean Walls.

Pegasus

Pegasus in Greek mythology

Pegasus was the winged horse of Greek mythology , for whom , though Homer does not mention him , there are the following supplies :
 When Perseus beheaded Medusa , which was pregnant by Poseidon , sprang from the intersection Chrysaor ,the father of Gyrioni and Pegasus the winged horse.
In a testimonial, Pegasus was born from the blood that fell in the sea. Then Perseus riding him managed to escape the pursuit of the other two Gorgons sisters of Medusa, or the most common form of myth, with his winged sandals. Pegasus was therefore the son of Poseidon and Medusa.
According to Hesiod its name is due to "sources" of the ocean where it was born, so the name is said to have relationship with sources. Pegasus, winged as it was, came to Mount Olympus, the seat of the Immortals and lived in the service of Zeus used for the transportation of the lightning from the workshop of Hephaestus in Olympus .According to the mythological tradition that prevailed in Corinth Pegasus was eminently Corinthian deity, for which they were cut and coins with the-appearance. Saying that once the Pegasus sprang from Medusa, flew to Akrocorinth and quenched the thirst of in the waters of Peirini source hence "Peirinios colt" since the name. Then traditions of the Corinthians associate Pegasus with tradition Velerofonti and Chimera.



The relationship of the Muses with Pegasus is due to the following tradition : When the Muses competed once in the song with the daughters of  Pierus ,at the river Helicon when the Pieri daughters just started singing, all had become dark. Shortly after, when was the turn of the Muses , everything seemed like it stopped , the sky , the sea ,the rivers ,to listen to the exquisite hymns , and the Helicon was beginning to raise its top to the sky with joy and pride until it was stopped by the winged Pegasus kicking him with is hooves, by order of Poseidon, . From the kick was born the source of Helicon , whose waters inspired the Muses , and the so-called Hippocrene .

In later myths Pegasus is mentioned as horse of Eos to which offered it as a gift  Zeus to drags her chariot.
In still later times Pegasus was regarded as horse of the Muses,crested poets and with which fly up to stardom.
Eventually the gods offered Pegasus an eternal place in heaven creating the constellation of Pegasus.
Many were the performances of Pegasus mainly in currencies and stone paintings during the Mycenaean times until the Roman past,as a horse with wings. Apart from the podium of the chariot of Poseidon and Amphitrite, in Corinth which the sternum and below is depicted as a sea hull.

Giants

Giants in Greek mythology

In Greek mythology the Giants were born from the body of the Earth when the blood dripped onto it from the wound of Heaven after amputation caused by Saturn . In the same way were born Furies and Mellish Nymphs .
The Giants were scary and supernatural beings . They had human form but were terrible in appearance and huge in stature with irresistible strength. Their body was scaly and ended with a lizard tail . They had thick hair and long beard . In their hairy hands they held long and shining spears . Although they had divine origin they were mortal , or at least to be killed had to be hit simultaneously by a god and a mortal . Other traditions say that some of the Giants were immortal as long they stomped on the ground where they were born. Predominant part of their birth is Pallini  in Halkidiki , an area extremely wild .


The Giants were far more by the Titans, the Cyclopes and Hecatonchires. Estimated at around one hundred. Inhabited the western shores of the ocean where were often visited by the gods and took part in their feasts. This was done in the feasts when the Giants offered hecatombs. Even on the road, when the gods encountered them they went with them.


 However, there was a time that they clashed with them, the famous the Gigantomachy(clash of the Giants). The strength of the Giants was unimaginable.They could easily peel off whole rocks and hurl them away.

Scylla

Scylla in Greek mythology

Scylla is a female monster of Greek mythology. Considered daughter of Poseidon and Gaia. She lived on the European shore of the Strait of Bosporus (the Asian coast lived another monster, the Charyvdis). Had six necks and grab corresponding sailors by passing ships. Later mythographers transferred the residence of the two monsters over the Strait of Messina between Italy and Sicily.

Both the Charybdis and Scylla involved in the legends of both Odysseus and the Argonauts, who went through those straits with few losses, because Hera asked Poseidon to sleep up, both she and Charybdis. She had nine heads that looked like a dog, hence her name.

 Scylla and Charybdis were two terrible sea monsters . The sailors who risked their travels by menacing waves and storms made up with their imagination mythical forms, raging angry and trying to destroy them. Thus were born these two scary monsters. The seamen were putting in their minds that it was not just the strong winds and the huge waves . They believed that something more was behind all this , a creature with evil soul and terrible in appearance, who seeks the loss thereof; cause this whole terrible turmoil and the weather was not accidental . It was said that Scylla and Charybdis were opposite to each other , in a narrow sea channel which, according to Homer , called Plagton Stones . This passage was quite impossible to traverse it, because of the terrible situation there by the presence of the two monsters - nor bird could fly and get away. There were many cliffs , very tall and the waves exploded on them with terrible noise. This narrow passage is placed in different places. Others say that it was at the Bosphorus , others at Cape Tainaro and others close to the Canary Islands , off the Mediterranean, viz. It was believed that Scylla and Charybdis lived on the Strait of Messina between Italy and Sicily . The two monsters were  in two reefs .

The one was so tall that the top was lost in the sky and was always covered with thick black clouds. The Scylla was hidden halfway down the precipice into the cave. She had twelve deformed legs, that rose in the air and six very long necks. The six heads were terrible, with three jaws each; namely every mouth had three rows of teeth, dripping poison. From the cave stood out her heads, which dived around the rock into the water and  grabed the great beasts of the sea, dolphins, sharks, seals and devoured them with rage.But they  also ate people if a ship dared to cross the strait. Scylla snatched so many rowers as many were her terrible mouths. Parents of Scylla were, according to tradition,  Forks and Kito, which had parents Pontus and Gaia. Children were also other the sea monsters like Echidna, the Sirens and Thoossa, which symbolized the fierce sea.Others, again, say that the parents of Scylla was the Phorbas and Hecate or Forks and Hecate.

Hecate was the daughter of Zeus, however,she was linked more with people than with the gods.Her kingdom was the sea , and when not hung around , stayed in the cave , just like her daughter , Scylla . Hecate was called otherwise and Lamia which was a beautiful queen of Libya , favored by Zeus.But, Hera , to take revenge , transformed her into a horrible monster, and later she gave birth to Scylla . Finally , another tradition holds as parents Tyfoea and Echidna . Charybdis lived on the opposite side , where there was a second hurdle , but with less height.On it had sprouted a wild fig and below the foliage was sitting the monster that his mouth vomited black water. The Charybdis could convert the narrow passage into a huge whirlpool; three times a day sucked the water three times xanavgaze with great speed. So if they happened and anyone was near the moments that sucked, had no chance to escape.

Not even Poseidon himself could intervene and help their his protege. The legend of Scylla and Charybdis created by the imagination and the stories of seafarers who believed that the terrible weather conditions were due to the existence of two horrible monsters.  Over time encountered  various stories about the original origin and their later transformation. As the years went by, people were trying to explain how they were born - They believed that they were firstly creatures on land and in the course of their lives for some reason,they  were transformed.

Sphinx

Sphinx in Greek mythology

The Sphinx is a fantastic creature of Greek mythology, closely connected with the myth of Lavdakidon namely that of Oedipus. Representations of her are being used in secure areas,as symbols of protection in the Egyptian, Greek and Roman culture. According to Hesiod she was the daughter of Chimera and Orthros or by others of Echidna and Typhon. Echidna has also spawned Cerberus, Orthros(Keeper of the herds of Geryon), the Nemean Lion, the Hydra and Fea of Krommyonas. She is also attached  Chimera, the dragon of Colchis, the guardian of the Golden Fleece, the dragon who guarded the golden apples of Hesperides and the eagle of Prometheus.
In Greek representations the Sphinx is depicted as a winged lion with a woman's head (as opposed to the Sphinx of Egypt, not feathers) or as a woman with lion soles and torso,she had serpent tail and wings of a bird. Her name derives from the word clinch.

We can recognize the Sirens from the bird's body, human's head, feet and nails which are strong and thick and can be likened to the lions. This shows perhaps a relationship that can exist between Sirens and Sphinx.
Hera and Ares sent her to her homeland, Ancient Thebes. There she stood and asked the passers "Which creature in the morning stands on all fours, at noon in two and three in the evening?". Anyone who would not solve the riddle, the Sphinx squeezed him until he died. Oedipus solved the riddle answering that the creature is the man since when is an infant walks on all fours, then lifted in both legs and walks upright in old age but uses  as a third leg a walking stick. Once Oedipus solved the riddle of the Sphinx,she shattered off the rock that she was standing and died.
There is also another version of the Sphinx which is presented by  Pausanias. So, according to Pausanias, the Sphinx was the illegitimate daughter of Laius. Laios trusted only to her the oracle he got from Pythia and he told that it was about his wife Iokaste and her fertility. This is because Laios had many children from concubines, as he avoided commingling with Iokaste. But in one of his drunkenness he slept with his wife and  then was born Oedipus.

Thus, although he abandoned Oedipus on Cithaeron,he was keeping his reservations when one of his sons would claim the throne he sent him to Sphinx.So when she was asking the riddle,she could know if they were genuine children of Laius or not. Because the knowledge of the oracle had only those who came from the royal family,the ones who could not answer the riddle,were killed.
Oedipus before encountering the Sphinx had learned about this riddle in his sleep,so he could solve it.

Sirens

Sirens in Greek mythology

Sirens were goddesses associated with water, love and death. More precisely they act as sea demons of Greek Mythology. Depicted with a human female head and raptors body .
In the prevailing scenario they are considered daughters of the river god Achelous and the Muse Melpomene (Apollodorus) or Terpsichore (Apollonius Rhodius) or Steropi.
In another version they are considered to be daughters of the sea god Forks and their mother was Chthon (Earth). Usually they were two figures Aglaopi (brilliant in appearance) and Thelxiepeia (charming in reason) or three Parthenopi, Nicosia (white substance) and small (Clear Voice) or Aglaofonos, Molpi (melodious voice) and Thelxinoi (beautiful mind) by Hesiod. Other names given to them are Thelxiopi (charming view) and Peisinoi (persuasion of the mind).
According to the myth, the Sirens were sea nymphs (Naiads) companions of Persephone. When the Persephone was kidnapped by Hades her mother Demeter gave them the body of birds to help her in the search.
When they could no longer able to find her they settled down on an island where with their beautiful song attracted the sailors of the ships which were approaching the area and then caused their destruction.
Are first mentioned in the Odyssey as residents on the island of Anthemoessa at the Tyrrhenian Sea, at the Strait of Messina between Sicily and Calabria. Odysseus had been told by Circe about the charming song with which they traped the unsuspecting travelers, who approaching either forgot their destination or were mangled by them, so he ordered the whole crew to put wax in their ears  not to hear the song of the Sirens, and he asked to tie him to the mast so when he heard their song would not be dragged into charm.
Before Odysseus only the Argonauts had managed to go through their area when Chiron had warned Jason to get with him Orpheus who with his song surpassed in beauty the sirens and finally managed to escape without loss.

The island of the Sirens or Seirinousson is not precisely identified nor mythological. Various scholars have proposed numerous locations. However,the prevailing view was on the beach in Campania near Naples.

Minotaur

Minotaur in Greek mythology

In Greek mythology, the Minotaur was a creature with a human body and head and tail of a bull. Beyond this descriptive name, the name of the Minotaur was Asterion(=stars). Sometimes even represented as a bull with human torso, in correspondence with the Centaur. He resided in the Labyrinth, a building built by Daedalus on the order of King Minos. The Minotaur was killed by Theseus.

The birth of Minotaur

Before  Minos became king he asked Poseidon a sign to show that he,and not his brother, had to ascend the throne.The god sent a beautiful white bull and told Minos to sacrifice this bull to him. But Minos instead of this he sacrificed another bull, hoping that Poseidon will not notice.
 But the god  realized what he had done, was outraged, and made Minos' wife Pasiphae fall in love with the bull. The woman could not satisfy her passion and sought help from the engineer Daedalus.So he created a blank dummy cow in which Pasiphae went into it and the bull deceived,mated with her. From this union was born the Minotaur.
Minos, after an oracle that he took from the oracle of Delphi, asked Daedalus to build a building to be closed within the Minotaur, and he built the Labyrinth.

The end of Minotaur

The son of Minos,Androgeos took part in competitions at Panathenaia and had some victories, for which the Athenians got jealous and killed him. Minos in order to punish the Athenians declared a war, in which he won. As punishment the Athenians appointed every nine years,seven young Athenians and seven youngster Athenians to be sent to Crete and mangled by the Minotaur.
Unable to tolerate the sacrifice, Theseus, son of King Aegeus of Athens, decided to be one of the fourteen young people, to be found near the Minotaur so he can kill him. When he arrived in Crete he met Minos' daughter Ariadne,and fell in love with her.Ariadne wanting to help him gave him a ball of thread, the Ariadne's thread and advised him to tie the edge to the entrance of the labyrinth and then to unravel it, so that then, after slaying the Minotaur, to find the exit.
Theseus actually killed the monster with his sword and using the Ariadne's thread, managed to get out of the maze and returned to Athens.