Theseus and the Minotaur
a Greek Myth
Adapted by Avital Weissman
Once upon a time in the great civilization of Greece, there were two great cities who were at war with one another, Athens and Crete. When the war ended, the triumphant king of Crete, Minos, declared that peace would only be obtained on condition that every 9 years the Athenians send him 7 boys and 7 girls. This was revenge for the death of his son.
The children were chosen by lottery . On one such year that the Athenians were required to send children to Crete, Theseus decided that he would be one of the boys to go. Theseus was son of Aegeus, the ruler of Athens. Theseus had had many previous adventures and was a very brave and strong youth. Reluctantly, Aegeus agreed to allow Theseus to go and slay the Minotaur and thus put an end to sacrificing the children every 9 years.
Aegeus made only one request of his son before he left for Crete. He asked that he raise white sails on the ship home if successful in slaying the Minotaur. If Theseus was not successful and was killed, then the sailors should keep the black sails raised to inform the king before their return.
When the 14 children arrived in Crete, they dined in the palace of Minos. At this meal, Theseus met Ariadne, the daughter of King Minos and told her many of his stories. She was smitten by Theseus and fell in love with him.
Not wanting to see Theseus killed by the Minotaur, Ariadne presented Theseus with a ball of string before they departed for the Labyrinth. She told him to tie the string to the door and it would lead him back to the entrance and he would be able to escape the maze if he was successful in killing the Minotaur. She also gave him a sword, which he hid under his cloak .
Once in the Labyrinth, Theseus found the Minotaur and they fought and struggled. Ultimately, Theseus was triumphant! The Minotaur was dead! Theseus began to reroll the string and he was able to find his way out of the Labyrinth. He was able to find the rest of the children, as well.
Ariadne was waiting for them on the other side of the door and hid them until dark. Once night fell, she helped them back to their boat to return to Athens. She asked Theseus that in return, he take her back to Athens with him and marry her. Theseus happily agreed!
On the return trip to Athens, the ship stopped for the night on the island of Naxos. Morning came and the ship sailed on, leaving Ariadne asleep on the beach. Theseus continues to be forgetful, and does not raise the white sails to signal to his father that he was successful and alive. Because Aegeus sees that black sail up on ship, he assumes that Theseus was dead and kills himself by jumping into the sea and drowning. Today, this sea is known as the Aegean Sea.
