Minotaurus

• a monster with the head of a bull and the body of a man, the fruit of the intercourse of Pasiphaë, the wife of Minos, with a bull. Minos caused him to be shut up in the labyrinth and fed with human flesh. The Athenians were obliged to deliver to him seven boys and as many maidens every year, until Theseus destroyed him, and, with the aid of Ariadne's clew, escaped from the labyrinth: Minotaurus putatur esse genitus, cum Pasiphaë Minois regis uxor dicitur concubuisse cum tauro. Sed affirmant alii, Taurum fuisse nomen adulteri, Paul. ex Fest. p. 148 Müll.: proles biformis Minotaurus, Verg. A. 6, 25; cf. Ov. M. 7, 456; 8, 152 sq.; Hyg. Fab. 41: Minotauri effigies inter signa militaria est, Paul. ex Fest. p. 148 Müll.—Comically: offensione Minotauri, i. e. Calvisii et Tauri, Cic. Fam. 12, 25, 1.

(Μινώταυρος), a monster with a human body and a bull's head, or, according to others, with the body of an ox and a human head; is said to have been the offspring of the intercourse of Pasiphae with the bull sent from the sea to Minos, who shut him up in the Cnossian labyrinth, and fed him with the bodies of the youths and maidens whom the Athenians at fixed times were obliged to send to Minos as tribute. The monster was slain by Theseus. It was often represented by ancient artists either alone in the labyrinth, or engaged in the struggle with Theseus. (Paus. 1.24.2, 27, in fin. 3.18.7; Apollod. 3.1.4, 15.8.) [L.S]

• , Μινώταυρος, a monster with a bull's head, born of Pasiphaë, wife of Minos, V., O.

See Minos; Theseus.