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The Minotaur is described as not really a monster, or at least not only a monster, despite how people commonly perceive him as "a monster whom Theseus, the gallant hero, slayed in the Labyrinth to save himself and other sacrificial youths".[1]
Background
According to the legend, the Minotaur was a descendant of the Sun God and a prince of Crete, born neither human nor a beast, making him an abomination that no kind welcomed. As a child, his father imprisoned him under the palace, keeping him in the darkness and feeding him human flesh.[1]
Every year, fourteen youths were sent into the darkness to be devoured by the Minotaur, until Theseus happened to be one of the youths. In the end, Theseus slayed the Minotaur and escaped the Labyrinth using a string that Ariadne gave him.[1]
The Minotaur was only fed once a year, which is suggested as a reason he developed a taste for human flesh, yet he is also described as belonging to no kind, being neither a human nor a monster, so that no one he devoured was his kin, leaving open the question of what sin he truly committed.[1]
Trivia
References
Sources & history
Minotaur · Shadow Slave Wiki
Source revision 40819
Adapted from Fandom. CC-BY-SA
Retrieved 2026-11-04 · Article version 1