Introduction

For this Sparked Travel guide we will be exploring the first of our Greek lore and Mythology series with the story of the Minotaur’s Labyrinth. We find ourselves traveling to the Greek island of Crete where there were once rumors of a great man-eating beast hidden away by King Minos. The King of Crete sought to hide this ghastly creation in order to cover up the mistidings of Queen Pasiphae. The Queen had become possessed by the gods who filled her with desire for the majestic Bull from the Sea. Together they created the infamous Minotaur who grew to have an insatiable hunger for humans. King Minos ordered the construction of the Labyrinth to imprison the Minotaur and would offer human sacrifices to the beast. 

Eventually, the Greek Hero Theseus rose to the challenge and told his father, King Aegeus of Athens that he would volunteer as a sacrificial tribute but it was never his intention to die. Once Theseus arrived in Crete, the daughters of King Minos fell deeply in love with the Greek hero. Unable to see him perish, Ariadne gifted Theseus a ball of string so that he may use it to navigate the Labyrinth. Theseus successfully slayed the beast and saved his fellow Athenians in the labyrinth. 

Today, the labyrinth remains merely a creation of this lore as archeologists have yet to uncover any remains that would confirm its existence. But the city which King Minos ruled over is very much real. Just outside the Cretan city of Heraklion, travelers will find Knossos. This archaeological site brings this story to life as you can explore the grounds of Europe’s oldest city. 

Heraklion

Traveling to Crete is fairly simple from Athens, Greece. The flight is only about an hour and will fly directly into Heraklion. Once you arrive in Heraklion, it’s time to learn more about the ancient Greek culture and hunt down the legendary Minotaur. Heraklion is the capital of Crete and has a rich history and diverse culture as it was subject to many different ruling powers over its long history. At the origin, we have the Minoan era in which King Minos ruled over the city. From then, the city has been controlled by Roman powers, Venetian powers, Ottoman powers, and today in which the island is considered part of Greece. 

Naturally, Museums and historical sites will be of interest in this ancient city. The Heraklion Archaeological Museum is a great location to visit and will show travelers artifacts that clue us in on the intricate history of Crete. You can also book your admission for the Palace of Knossos directly on the Museum’s website combining both of the experiences. The ticket for the museum is 6 Euros and the ticket for the Palace is 15 Euros. 

Aside from the museum, walking the city is a great way to learn more about this ancient city. Be sure to visit Old Town and take in the sites of the Harbor. Nearby Old Town, you will also find the Koules Fortress which was built by Venetians in the 16th century to protect their port city. There are plenty of activities for travelers eager to experience Crete.

Palace of Knossos

The most practical way of getting to Knossos is via rental car and it is only a 15 minute drive. Travelers can also travel to Knossos using the city bus system and will only cost about two Euros. For a more detailed explanation on getting to Knossos and the tickets check out this website which breaks things down well for visitors. The palace is well-preserved and quite intricate for its time. This site is sure to fill travelers with excitement of the ancient past. It is an interesting experience to walk the very streets which gave creation to this Greek lore. You will notice the gorgeous architecture and art of the ancient Minoans; you may also notice a recurring theme of Minoan artwork. This culture often highlighted majestic bulls in their art. One of the most notable and most preserved pieces is the Bull-Leaping Fresco which is located on the east wall. This leads to more questions on the premise of this mythological story. Travelers will have to deduce their own theories on this ancient Greek lore and be sure to let me know your thoughts!

There is a TED-Ed video that has a very intriguing theory on the creation of this tale where scientists believe that the story of the Minotaur was created to explain the many earthquakes Crete experiences.