Minotaur

Jason is confronted by the Minotaur.

The Minotaur is a creature situated in the Labyrinth who is a curse of the gods. Every year, seven tributes are forced to fight the beast in order to protect the City of Atlantis and its King, Minos. (The Earth Bull)

History

Origin

The Minotaur was a man who defied the god Poseidon and was cursed to spend the rest of his years as a half man, half beast creature in a series of darkened caves to eat on human flesh.

Atlantis

Each year, the Minotaur would be sent a shipment of seven adult tributes from Atlantis. The tributes would be forced into the cave system to be eaten by the Minotaur. In the episode The Earth Bull, Pythagoras is selected to be sent to the caves, but Jason takes his place.

It was prophesised that the only person capable of killing the Minotaur was Jason. In a fight scene between the two, Jason finds a sword left in the cave (its origin is not apparent) and is able to use it to stab the beast as it charges him down. As the Minotaur slowly reverts back to his human self, he speaks of the prophecy, and thanks Jason for freeing him before he dies.

Greek Mythology

In Greek mythology, the Minotaur dwelt at the centre of a labyrinth on the Greek island of Crete. Every one, seven or nine years (depending on the source), seven young men and seven maidens would be sent into the labyrinth as sacrifices. The Minotaur was eventually slain by the Athenian hero Theseus.