Los Angeles Valley College Minoan Myth Legend and History Discussion

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Minoan Myth, Legend and History

There are many myths and legends associated with Minoan culture and civilization surrounding King Minos and the Palace at Knossos on Crete.  When seen as symbolic stories that reveal transitions in power, customs, or cultural shifts, these stories shed light on the historical advents through the lens of those able to retell and reflect on these past events.  Through the retelling, they often take on exaggerated, heroic, or supernatural detail and episodes, with an express moral or instructive purpose.  For example you might consider Aesop’s Fables, or various Fairy Tales, the Brothers Grimm, or Mother Goose in this regard.

Prompt:

Read the story of Theseus and the Minotaur (click on link below).  Discuss how this story might suggest the shift from Minoan dominance to Athenian dominance in the region.  Based on your understanding of Minoan culture and retold from an “Athenian” view, why do you think the story took on such specific aspects such as a labyrinth, a Minotaur, tribute to a king, death of a father, etc.?  Cite another myth/legend/fable that likewise reveals a deeper culture shift, or instructive purpose?  Explain.

https://www.worldhistory.org/Minotaur/