Minotaurs are creatures with human body and bull head, known for their great physical strength and ferocity.
History
The original Minotaur, called Minotaurus and the Bull of Minos, was a Cretan prince of unknown name born out of a curse by the god of the sea Poseidon to punish King Minos of Crete for not having returned to the god the white bull sent on his wedding day with Pasiphae to make the herd of Crete the greatest in the world. Then Poseidon cursed Minos, causing his wife to give birth to a baby with a bull's head and a taste for human flesh. As the child was protected by Poseidon, Minos was unable to kill him, no matter how hard he tried, and then decided to imprison him in the underground labyrinth in Knossos designed by the architect Daedalus, where he was comforted only by the annual sacrifice of a slave boy or a slave girl. One year, the young man who would be sacrificed was Prince Theseus of Athens, but with the help of Princess Ariadne, daughter of Minos and sister of the Minotaur, Theseus managed to kill the creature and put an end to human sacrifices in Crete.[2] He has since dwelt in Hell, between the regions where heretics and violent people are punished,[5] but can somehow come to the world of the living sometimes.[1]
Other minotaurs (some of them being the original Minotaurus himself in alternative realities) could be seen in various other parts of the world almost always protecting or being imprisoned in labyrinths, such as on Paradise Island[6][7][8], Kithira Island[9][10], Gamorra Island[11], Temple of Pasiphae[3], although their population is now almost extinct.[12]
The word "Minotaur" derives from the ancient Greek Minotauros, a compound of 'Minos' and tauros ('bull'), thus the 'Bull of Minos'.
Powers and Abilities
Powers
Abilities
- Hand-to-Hand Combat (Advanced)
- Intimidation
- Weaponry: Traditionally, minotaurs are seen wielding war axes.
Miscellaneous
Representatives:
- Minotaurus (the original)[2][1][3]
- Adelphos and Heron[6]
- Eirene[13]
- Ferdinand
- Georges Skouras[14]
- Maurice[15]
- Reemo and his calf[16]
Notes
- This character or object is an adaptation of Minotaur, a character or object in traditional stories. These include, but may not be limited to religious texts, myth, and/or folk lore. More information on the original can be found at Wikipedia.org.
See Also
Links and References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Wonder Woman (Volume 5) #35
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Solo #3
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Wonder Woman: Bloodlines (Movie)
- ↑ Green Lantern: Blackstars #2
- ↑ Batman/Dylan Dog #2
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Ame-Comi Girls: Featuring Wonder Woman #1
- ↑ Wonder Woman/Tasmanian Devil Special #1
- ↑ Wonder Woman: The True Amazon
- ↑ Wonder Woman (Volume 2) #195
- ↑ Wonder Woman (Volume 5) #19
- ↑ Wildstorm: Revelations #5
- ↑ DC Universe #0
- ↑ Wonder Woman (Volume 5) #58
- ↑ Hawkman (Volume 3) #16
- ↑ Future State: Immortal Wonder Woman #1
- ↑ Wonder Woman: Agent of Peace #18