Well known it is, that history and lore were passed 'word of mouth' through Canada's native tribes ~ and also America's aboriginals. Usually told to families around their evening campfires, these tales and historic events were passed down from one generation to another.
Coming across my desk this morning, from one of my faithful readers, was this article, capturing my attention.
The stories of Greek Mythology were the heart and soul of the people of Ancient Greece ~ and played a huge role in determining how the people lived their lives. The first written tales were actually written well after the stories were first told. Even today, they play a huge role in contemporary art and culture
with Zeus...Poseidon...Hercules...and many other famous Gods and heroes making multiple appearances in movies and books ~ like in the Percy Jackson series of novels like Troy (2004) starring Brad Pitt ~ also Jason and the Argonauts (1963) featuring Nancy Kovack.
The men and women from these stories are the stuff of legends.
Theseus and the Minotaur
Theseus was raised in the palaces of Troezen, a small town southwest of Athens, by his mother Aethra, daughter of Pittheus who was the King of Troezen. When he grew up, he found himself more and more curious about the identity of his father ~ and soon discovered that his mother (at the time of his conception) had two suitors: Poseidon, God of the Sea and brother of Zeus ~ and King Aegeus, the King of Athens. Determined to find answers, he made his way to Athens, where he would encounter a number of dangerous enemies all of whom he was victorious against, like Medea, the sorceress. Of all his victories, however, his greatest was his triumph against King Minos of Crete.
At the time of tyranny and terror for the people of Athens,
every year 14 Athenians (7 men and 7 women), were sent to Crete to be sacrifices to the Minotaur (part-man and part bull) as compensation for the killing of Androgeus, the son of King Mino. The Minotaur was a monster that lived in a labyrinth under the palace of King Minos, believed to be the nomalous offspinrg of the King's wife Pasiphae and a Cretan Bull. She didn't have any particular affection for cows ~ she was cursed by a God to fall in love with the bull, as punishment to the king.
Temple of Theseus in Vienna
In the third year of the sacrifices, unable to stand this cruel practice, Theseus volunteered to be one of the sacrifices sent to Crete. The daughter of King Minos, Ariadne, is said to have fallen in love with Theseus at first sight ~ and agreed to help him defeat the Minotaur if he agreed to marry her.
Theseus and Ariadne, fulfilling her end of the deal, provided Theseus with a ball of string forged by Hephaestus, on the advice of the creator of the Minotaur's labyrinth, Daedalus.
Like a trail of bread crumbs, Theseus used the string to make sure he could find his way back out as he journeyed to the center of the labyrinth. There he finds the Minotaur ~ and using all the strength he had left, overpowered the flesh-hungry beast ~ and freed both the nations of both Athens and Crete. He returned to Athens with Ariadne, where he was crowned king.
Thesues' heroic stories teaches us that you can beat the toughest monsters in the darkest places ~ as long as you know ~ you can find your way back home.
Written: March 24, 2019
To comment: mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca
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