Rights of use
Terms and Conditions of external provider apply.

Short Info
The story of Theseus' battle with the Minotaur takes place within the wider context of a series of myths which may be collectively termed "The Cretan Cycle." This project aims to explore this wider context in order to provide new insight into the meaning and symbolism of these myths. The first chapter focuses on the role of sacred and profane bestiality within the Cretan Cycle, and argues that the Minotaur may be an embodiment of the social conception of untamed sexuality. The second chapter discusses the recurring theme, within the myths of this cycle, of the Bull from the Sea, and also addresses the broader mythic significance of these recurrences. The final chapter addresses the relationship between bulls and goddesses in comparative mythologies, and analyzes the links between these relationships and the Cretan Cycle. The final concluding section discusses modern interpretation of the Cretan Cycle in light of the discoveries of the first three chapters, with a particular focus on the role of queer sexuality, violence/sacrifice, and gender in the myths.

Subject & keywords
Minotaur; Theseus; Pasiphae; Ariadne; Cretan Bull; Dionysus; Comparative Mythology; Myth; Queer theory; Sacrifice; Goddess