MYNOTAUR. The Minotaur was said to be the son of Pasiphae, queen of Crete, and a bull. Daedalus constructed a wooden cow for Pasiphae, which she entered to mate with the bull. The result was the Minotaur, half man, half bull. Minos lodged it in the labyrinth, which Daedalus also constructed. After his son was killed in Athens, Minos demanded that the Athenians send a tribute of seven youths and seven maidens to be eaten by the Minotaur. The third tribute brought Theseus to Crete, and with Ariadne's help, he entered the labyrinth, slew the monster, and returned safely to the light (Met VIII.155-182).

The figure of the Mynotaur is embroidered on Theseus's pennant, KnT 978-980. Theseus discusses his lack of weapons with which to slay the Mynotaur with Ariadne, LGW 2102-2122; she gives him a reel of thread or a clue when he enters the Mynotaur's dwelling, LGW 2140-2143. Theseus is led to his death when he goes to the Mynotaur, LGW 2144-2145. [Adriane: Dedalus: Minos: Phasipha: Phedra: Theseus]

Mynotaur, a spelling variant, means "bull of Minos"; it appears medially only, KnT 980; LGW 2104, 2141, 2145.