ARC 111 Chapter 18: King Minos and Pasiphae and the Bull

• School: University of Kentucky
• Department: Architecture
• Course: ARC 111
• Professor: Andrew Manson

Document Summary

The civilization of crete is known by the name minoan, after the fabled king minos of greek legend. In greek mythology, minos was the son of zeus, the most powerful of the gods, and europa, a beautiful. Zeus fell in love with europa and determined upon her seduction. Appearing to europa in the form of a white bull with golden horns, he lured her to the seashore. Enchanted by the apparent gentleness of the bull, europa decked his horns with flower wreaths and sat upon his back. Instantly, zeus plunged into the sea and carried europa to crete. There she bore him three sons: minos, rhadamanthys, and. When zeus left europa, she marries asterius, the king of crete. Because he was childless, asterius adopted europa"s sons and made them his heirs. According to the greek accounts, minos, who became king at asterius" death, was a powerful and just ruler.