Greek mythology
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External Websites
- Greek Gods and Goddessess - Minos – King of Crete and Judge of the Dead
- Digital Commons at Georgia Southern - Myth, Ritual, and the Labyrinth of King Minos
- Encyclopedia Mythica - Minos
- Greek Legends and Myths - King Minos in Greek Mythology
- Ancient Origins - In Search of the Mythical King Minos, Did the Legendary Ruler Really Exist?
Britannica Websites
Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Thank you for your feedback
Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.
External Websites
- Greek Gods and Goddessess - Minos – King of Crete and Judge of the Dead
- Digital Commons at Georgia Southern - Myth, Ritual, and the Labyrinth of King Minos
- Encyclopedia Mythica - Minos
- Greek Legends and Myths - King Minos in Greek Mythology
- Ancient Origins - In Search of the Mythical King Minos, Did the Legendary Ruler Really Exist?
Britannica Websites
Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.
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The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last Updated: •Article History
Recent News
June 22, 2024, 2:58 AM ET (Jerusalem Post)
Circular structure in Crete: Could be King Minos's legendary labyrinth
Minos, legendary ruler of Crete; he was the son of Zeus, the king of the gods, and of Europa, a Phoenician princess and personification of the continent of Europe. Minos obtained the Cretan throne by the aid of the Greek god Poseidon, and from Knossos (or Gortyn) he gained control over the Aegean islands, colonizing many of them and ridding the sea of pirates. He married Pasiphae, the daughter of Helios, who bore him, among others, Androgeos, Ariadne, and Phaedra, and who was also the mother of the Minotaur.
Minos successfully warred against Athens and Megara to obtain redress after his son Androgeos was killed by the Athenians. In Athenian drama and legend Minos became the tyrannical exactor of the tribute of children to feed the Minotaur. Having pursued Daedalus to Sicily, Minos was killed by the daughters of King Cocalus, who poured boiling water over him as he was taking a bath. After his death he became a judge in Hades.
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From Athena to Zeus: Basics of Greek Mythology
Although Athens preserved a hostile tradition, the general account shows Minos as a powerful, just ruler, very closely associated with religion and ritual. In light of excavations in Crete, many scholars consider that Minos was a royal or dynastic title for the priestly rulers of Bronze Age, or Minoan, Knossos.
