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Description

The Minotaurus: The Creation of the Hybrid Asterion or Asterios,

" The 'bull of Minos' was not the son of the mythical king of Crete, but of his wife Pasiphae. His origin was divine. The queen, daughter of the god Helios, brought him into the world by mating with a beautiful white bull sent by Poseidon. To accomplish this, she hid inside a hollow wooden cow crafted by the mythical craftsman Daedalus.
Pasiphae has been depicted tenderly holding the small child in her arms, possibly in a scene from Euripides' tragedy "Cretans." However, the appearance of the newborn must have terrified King Minos, who later commissioned Daedalus to design a "dazzling" underground refuge, the labyrinth, where the creature lived chained up for its entire life. Sometimes depicted wearing a tunic with stars, as a reference to his celestial origin and his real name, which was Asterion or Asterios. He was fed on human flesh, including young virgins sent by Athens as tribute. This bloody tradition ended when Theseus, son of the king of Athens Aegeus, killed the beast with the help of the princess Ariadne.
This merciless clash is depicted in the sculpture of the National Archaeological Museum. The large head of the bull surprises on top of the male body. Today's broken horns start from a cluster of unruly curls, but on the forehead, the hair is rendered as "dehumanized" hair in low relief. The large eyes on the sides of the head, the beginnings of the ear hollows, the snout with open nostrils, and the folds on the neck leave no doubt about its non-human nature. The by no means animalistic but bulky, slim body was also its main advantage in the encounter with Theseus, whom the beast faced unarmed or holding a stone. The hero attacked with a club or sword, a clear reference to human craftsmanship, and took the life of his opponent, who breathed his last in blood and screams: reason triumphed over the beastly.
This myth took root early in literature and the visual arts of antiquity, and there are hundreds of relevant representations in ancient Greece and Etruria. Knossos depicted the Minotaur and the labyrinth on its coins in the 5th century BC, but at the same time, the myth was adopted by Athens to legitimize its economic, naval, and cultural dominance, while the young Theseus became the model citizen. Virgil, Ovid, and Seneca enriched Latin literature with references to the myth and may have been the impetus for the Roman world's particular preference for the labyrinth theme, with labyrinthine depictions on mosaic floors, perhaps even as an allegory of Hades. At their center, the beast likely symbolized death from which the individual could escape through a unique path, similar to the one followed by Theseus.
The myth of the Minotaur incorporates many uncomfortable truths but also many achievements of civilization: in the violation of nature (Pasiphae and the bull), in human sacrifice (cannibalism), in subjection (human lives as tribute to Minos), heroism, divine and royal legitimation (Helios, Poseidon, Aegeus, Theseus), intelligence and inventiveness (Daedalus), astronomy (Helios and Asterion), maternal love (Pasiphae and the infant Minotaur), salvation (victory of Theseus, exit from the labyrinth), and the triumph of man over blind nature.
Dr. Despoina Ignatiadou" - National Archaeological Museum, Athens,Hellas(Greece).

Claude Calame, Thésée et l’imaginaire athénien. Légende et culte en Grèce antique, Lausanne 1990
www.calameo.com/books/00021502…

Α Postscript of my own thought:
It is important to remember that the myths and stories of ancient mythology often have multiple interpretations, and we cannot always find a single "truth" or "conspiracy" behind them. However, we can consider some possible interpretations proposed by historians and archaeologists:

Historical Basis: Ancient myths may have some historical basis or reflect real events that took place during antiquity. For example, the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur may reflect real conflicts between ancient cities or communities.
Allegory: Myths were also often used as allegories or lessons for the ancients. Thus, the story of the Minotaur and Theseus may represent concepts such as the struggle with fear, resistance against the uncontrollable, and the victory of man over internal demons.
Religious Significance: Ancient myths were often linked to religion and the exploration of the unknown. Therefore, the story of the Minotaur may have had religious significance or reflected religious practices of the time.

Social Structure: The existence of a monstrous and terrifying creature like the Minotaur may reflect the fear or anxiety of a society towards the unknown or the different. The theme of sacrificing humans to the Minotaur may reflect social practices or the need for appeasement prevailing in some ancient societies.

Political Power: King Minos and the tensions between city-states may constitute a reference to the political conflicts of the time, as well as to the concepts of power and influence.

Religion: The story of the Minotaur may symbolize older religious practices or myths, as well as the connection of religion with politics.

Symbolic Value: The myth of Theseus and the Minotaur may also have symbolic value, referring to concepts such as the search for truth, the confrontation with the demons of the past, and the victory of man over challenges.
These interpretations, among many others, can offer a better understanding of ancient myths and their significance for their time and the human experience.

Each person has their own personal belief and approach to truth and conspiracy theory. It is important to critically examine information and keep an open mind, seeking truth based on data and scientific approach.

Personally, I believe in the singular "truth" hidden behind a "graphic conspiracy theory."
And Remember this: "Truth passes into myth."

Description

The Minotaurus: The Creation of the Hybrid Asterion or Asterios,

" The 'bull of Minos' was not the son of the mythical king of Crete, but of his wife Pasiphae. His origin was divine. The queen, daughter of the god Helios, brought him into the world by mating with a beautiful white bull sent by Poseidon. To accomplish this, she hid inside a hollow wooden cow crafted by the mythical craftsman Daedalus.
Pasiphae has been depicted tenderly holding the small child in her arms, possibly in a scene from Euripides' tragedy "Cretans." However, the appearance of the newborn must have terrified King Minos, who later commissioned Daedalus to design a "dazzling" underground refuge, the labyrinth, where the creature lived chained up for its entire life. Sometimes depicted wearing a tunic with stars, as a reference to his celestial origin and his real name, which was Asterion or Asterios. He was fed on human flesh, including young virgins sent by Athens as tribute. This bloody tradition ended when Theseus, son of the king of Athens Aegeus, killed the beast with the help of the princess Ariadne.
This merciless clash is depicted in the sculpture of the National Archaeological Museum. The large head of the bull surprises on top of the male body. Today's broken horns start from a cluster of unruly curls, but on the forehead, the hair is rendered as "dehumanized" hair in low relief. The large eyes on the sides of the head, the beginnings of the ear hollows, the snout with open nostrils, and the folds on the neck leave no doubt about its non-human nature. The by no means animalistic but bulky, slim body was also its main advantage in the encounter with Theseus, whom the beast faced unarmed or holding a stone. The hero attacked with a club or sword, a clear reference to human craftsmanship, and took the life of his opponent, who breathed his last in blood and screams: reason triumphed over the beastly.
This myth took root early in literature and the visual arts of antiquity, and there are hundreds of relevant representations in ancient Greece and Etruria. Knossos depicted the Minotaur and the labyrinth on its coins in the 5th century BC, but at the same time, the myth was adopted by Athens to legitimize its economic, naval, and cultural dominance, while the young Theseus became the model citizen. Virgil, Ovid, and Seneca enriched Latin literature with references to the myth and may have been the impetus for the Roman world's particular preference for the labyrinth theme, with labyrinthine depictions on mosaic floors, perhaps even as an allegory of Hades. At their center, the beast likely symbolized death from which the individual could escape through a unique path, similar to the one followed by Theseus.
The myth of the Minotaur incorporates many uncomfortable truths but also many achievements of civilization: in the violation of nature (Pasiphae and the bull), in human sacrifice (cannibalism), in subjection (human lives as tribute to Minos), heroism, divine and royal legitimation (Helios, Poseidon, Aegeus, Theseus), intelligence and inventiveness (Daedalus), astronomy (Helios and Asterion), maternal love (Pasiphae and the infant Minotaur), salvation (victory of Theseus, exit from the labyrinth), and the triumph of man over blind nature.
Dr. Despoina Ignatiadou" - National Archaeological Museum, Athens,Hellas(Greece).

Claude Calame, Thésée et l’imaginaire athénien. Légende et culte en Grèce antique, Lausanne 1990
www.calameo.com/books/00021502…

Α Postscript of my own thought:
It is important to remember that the myths and stories of ancient mythology often have multiple interpretations, and we cannot always find a single "truth" or "conspiracy" behind them. However, we can consider some possible interpretations proposed by historians and archaeologists:

Historical Basis: Ancient myths may have some historical basis or reflect real events that took place during antiquity. For example, the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur may reflect real conflicts between ancient cities or communities.
Allegory: Myths were also often used as allegories or lessons for the ancients. Thus, the story of the Minotaur and Theseus may represent concepts such as the struggle with fear, resistance against the uncontrollable, and the victory of man over internal demons.
Religious Significance: Ancient myths were often linked to religion and the exploration of the unknown. Therefore, the story of the Minotaur may have had religious significance or reflected religious practices of the time.

Social Structure: The existence of a monstrous and terrifying creature like the Minotaur may reflect the fear or anxiety of a society towards the unknown or the different. The theme of sacrificing humans to the Minotaur may reflect social practices or the need for appeasement prevailing in some ancient societies.

Political Power: King Minos and the tensions between city-states may constitute a reference to the political conflicts of the time, as well as to the concepts of power and influence.

Religion: The story of the Minotaur may symbolize older religious practices or myths, as well as the connection of religion with politics.

Symbolic Value: The myth of Theseus and the Minotaur may also have symbolic value, referring to concepts such as the search for truth, the confrontation with the demons of the past, and the victory of man over challenges.
These interpretations, among many others, can offer a better understanding of ancient myths and their significance for their time and the human experience.

Each person has their own personal belief and approach to truth and conspiracy theory. It is important to critically examine information and keep an open mind, seeking truth based on data and scientific approach.

Personally, I believe in the singular "truth" hidden behind a "graphic conspiracy theory."
And Remember this: "Truth passes into myth."