The Minotaur
By Ben Stanley
One of the kings of Crete was named Minos. One day, there was a storm at sea and Minos asked the god Poseidon to bring his fleet home safely. In exchange Minos would sacrifice his best bull. Poseidon agreed, however, when the fleet came home Minos sacrificed the smallest bull. Poseidon was furious so he decided to take revenge.
Minos wife was expecting a baby, when it was born it was half man half bull. The Minotaur, meaning Bull of Minos, was very ugly to look at and the people were afraid of it. It had a nasty habit of eating people!
Minos told Daedalus, who would be called an engineer today, to build a labyrinth that was big, treacherous and so complicated that no one could find their way out. It took many year to complete. When it was completed, Minos put the beast in the labyrinth so it could not find its way out. Minos then demanded tribute from islands and cities, including Athens, in the form of young men and maidens.
The king of Athens was named Aegeus. He had a secret son, named Theseus who grew up on an island called Troezen. Even as baby he was fearless, when Heracles came to their town he laid his lion skin over a chair. Theseus thought it was a real lion so he attacked it with and axe. Heracles said Theseus would be a hero just like him when he’s older.
When Theseus was 21 he left his mother to see his father, Aegeus in Athens. When Theseus heard about the Minotaur he wanted to kill it so he went to Crete. The princess of Crete, Ariadne wanted the Minotaur dead too, because she thought it was cruel. So she gave him a ball of gold thread and a magic sword because it is the only sword that can kill the Minotaur. Theseus went in to the maze, tying the rope to the door knob and unwound it as he walked through the maze. When Theseus got closer, the Minotaur smelled him and attacked him. Theseus grabbed its horn and cut off it’s head.
The next morning Minos went to get the prisoners to put them in the labyrinth and he found their beds empty and a boat missing. During the night Theseus and Ariande had helped them escape and get back to Athens.
Wonderful re-telling of a classic tale! Awesome job!
Posted by: missjulep | May 16, 2011 at 12:17 PM
Great story, Ben. I hope you will post some more.
Posted by: Tom High | May 13, 2011 at 10:14 PM
Very interesting Ben! This is not a story that I knew so I learned something tonight. Thanks!
Love, Grandma
Posted by: Marinell High | May 13, 2011 at 09:58 PM
Very good Ben! I'm impressed and I learned all sorts of new stuff!
Posted by: Erin Uebelhor | May 13, 2011 at 09:30 PM