Minotauros

Minotauros is the Greek form of Minotaur, the name of a monstrous creature from Greek mythology. The name is derived from the Greek words Minos (the king of Crete) and tauros (bull), meaning "bull of Minos." The root of the name is the ancient Greek Μινώταυρος (Minotauros), which itself combines the name of King Minos with the element ταῦρος (tauros), meaning "bull."

Mythological Context

In Greek legend, the Minotaur was the offspring of Pasiphaë, the wife of King Minos of Crete, and a magnificent bull sent by the god Poseidon. The creature had the head and tail of a bull but the body of a man, a being described by the Roman poet Ovid as "part man and part bull." King Minos, ashamed of the creature, ordered the architect Daedalus to build an elaborate maze, the Labyrinth, to contain the Minotaur. According to tradition, as retribution for the death of Minos's son Androgeos, the people of Athens were compelled to send seven young men and seven young women every nine years as sacrificial victims to the Minotaur. The creature was eventually slain by the Athenian hero Theseus, who navigated the Labyrinth with the aid of a thread given to him by Minos's daughter, Ariadne.

Notable Associations

The Minotaur is sometimes also known by the alternative name Asterion or Asterius, a name shared with the foster-father of King Minos. The myth of the Minotaur has been widely interpreted in literature, art, and psychology as a symbol of monstrousness, the beast within, or the shadow side of human nature. In modern times, the creature appears in countless adaptations in film, books, and games.

Usage and Significance

The Greek form Minotauros (Μινώταυρος) is the direct classical rendition of the name, while the English form Minotaur entered the language in the 15th century through Latin mythology. The name is virtually never used as a personal given name today, but it has been used occasionally for fictional characters and in symbolic contexts. Its strong mythological associations ensure its enduring recognition.

Related names include Minos, the Cretan king whose name is linked to the root.

• Meaning: Bull of Minos
• Origin: Greek mythology
• Type: Mythological name (masculine)
• Usage regions: Greece, classical mythology worldwide