Minos

Family: Crete · Role: king · First appears: Fable 65

Minos, king of Crete, is driven to war against Athens after the death of his son Androgeus: “Minos prepares for war; who, though he is strong in soldiers, strong in shipping, is still strongest of all in the resentment of a parent, and, with retributive arms, avenges the death of {his son} Androgeus.” He gathers auxiliary forces and crosses the sea, while Ægeus is his enemy and Æacus refuses his request for an alliance. Minos then besieges and conquers Megara, becoming its master while laying waste the coasts of Nisus.

During the war, Scylla, Nisus’s daughter, cuts off her father’s fatal lock and offers Minos the fortunes of her country and herself. Though she loves him, Minos rejects the gift and forbids her from entering Crete, “shocked at the thought of so unheard of a crime,” then departs while she follows his fleet into the sea. After overcoming the Athenians, he imposes a tribute of youths and virgins for the Minotaur; Dædalus then designs and constructs the labyrinth to contain it. Minos is parent to Ariadne, whom the son of Ægeus carries away, and the material names Europa as his parent while denying that Jupiter was his father.

Minos later holds Dædalus in prolonged exile, though Dædalus longs to escape Crete. He is also connected with Procris, to whom he gives a dog and a javelin after prevailing over her virtue. In old age, Minos is alarmed by Miletus, believing he aims at his kingdom, but does not dare drive him from his native home.