How Science and Philosophy Provide Unique Perspectives on the Minotaur

What were ancient people trying to tell us through the story of the Minotaur?

Bronze statue of the Minotaur by artist Stuart Wolfe. Image source: Wikimedia Commons.

The world of ancient peoples was similar to ours in many ways. But they had different ways of expressing themselves. We can see such an example through the story of the Minotaur.

In Greek mythology, the Minotaur was a frightening creature. It was a half-bull, half-man who lived on the Greek island of Crete and demanded human sacrifices on an annual basis. The creature lived in a labyrinth under the palace of King Minos, the ruler of Crete.

The residents of the island lived in constant fear of the creature. The growls of the Minotaur made the earth tremble and terrified the citizens.

Theseus, the Athenian hero, solves the puzzle of the maze and kills the Minotaur, ending its reign of terror.

But what does the Minotaur stand for? Were the ancient people trying to explain something to them that they couldn’t understand by telling the story of a dreadful monster? Did a natural disaster wreak havoc on their lives?

Or was it a message about human nature?

Let us examine the scientific and philosophical explanations for the Minotaur and what it truly…