The Minotaur

Who was Minos’s father?

• Asterion

• Poseidon

• Zeus

• Daedalus

What promise did Minos make to Poseidon to prove he was meant to be king?

• To sacrifice his nephew Perdix

• To sacrifice the great white bull

• To build a labyrinth in Poseidon’s honor

• To dedicate his reign to the gods

Why was Daedalus banished from Athens?

• He helped Minos betray Poseidon.

• He created the labyrinth for the Minotaur.

• He killed his nephew out of jealousy.

• He assisted Theseus in defeating the Minotaur.

What was the immediate consequence of Minos breaking his promise to Poseidon?

• Poseidon refused to help Minos become king.

• Poseidon cursed the great white bull with madness.

• Minos lost his claim to the throne.

• Minos was banished from Crete.

What task did Daedalus perform to assist Minos’s wife?

• He built a labyrinth to trap the Minotaur.

• He crafted a mechanical bull to deceive the Cretan bull.

• He constructed a ship to transport children to Crete.

• He designed a weapon for Minos to slay the Minotaur.

Why did King Minos demand child sacrifices from Athens?

• To strengthen Crete’s naval fleet.

• To punish Athens for his son’s death.

• To ensure the safety of his kingdom.

• To seek revenge against Daedalus.

How did Theseus ensure he could find his way out of the labyrinth?

• He studied the labyrinth’s design before entering.

• He marked the walls with chalk as he moved.

• He used a ball of yarn given to him by King Minos’s daughter.

• He memorized the path as he walked.

What role did the Oracle play in dealing with the Minotaur?

• It advised Minos to build a labyrinth to contain the beast.

• It helped Theseus find a way to defeat the Minotaur.

• It revealed the identity of the Minotaur’s father.

• It foretold the Minotaur’s eventual escape.

How does the curse Poseidon places on Minos’s wife align with his anger toward Minos?

• It punishes both Minos and the citizens of Crete.

• It serves to humiliate Minos but spares the citizens.

• It ensures the bull is defeated by Theseus.

• It forces Minos to seek Poseidon’s forgiveness.

Compare the portrayal of the labyrinth in Homeric texts versus Ovid’s description. How do the two perspectives differ?

• Homeric texts describe a complex maze, while Ovid’s is a single path.

• Homeric texts focus on the sacrifices, while Ovid emphasizes the Minotaur.

• Homeric texts describe a single path to the center, while Ovid’s is an intricate maze.

• Homeric texts view the labyrinth as a symbol of power, while Ovid’s focuses on chaos.