With
apologies to Ovid and Homer:With
apologies to Ovid and Homer:
The Birth of Knossos and Subsequently Asterius
Between the Aegean and Lybian seas, the isle of
Crete serves as the setting for Knossos, a Minoan Shadow from the Golden
Age of Greek mythology which, like Amber, is named for her greatest city.
This prosperous land of soft sanded beaches looks out upon aquamarine waters
beneath turquoise skies and lush fertile valleys bordered by majestic verdant
mountains, providing an idyllic gateway between Europe and Africa. With
long, sultry summers tempered by the Mediterranean breezes and jasmine
scented starry nights, this island paradise is as rich in beauty as it
is in history.
Legend has it that the god Zeus spotted a young Phoenician Princess, Europa,
gathering flowers by the seashore. He appeared before her as a beautiful
snow-white bull and enticed Europa to climb onto his back. As soon as she
did, the transformed god carried her across the waters to Crete and she
gave birth to three sons, whom she claimed were children of Zeus: Minos,
Radamanthys, and Sarpedon. Thus began the story of Knossos and the tradition
of sacrificing bulls to give thanks to the gods.
Minos, the eldest of the brothers, freed Crete from foreign pirate slavelords
and eventually came to rule the island from a glorious palace atop Kefala
Hill, his brother Radamanthys serving as Royal Advisor. He even had the
greatest inventor of their time, Daedalus the Attic exile, as his architect.
Minos' kingdom flourished, and his enchanting wife Pasiphae, said to be
a daughter of the Sun, bore him three children: Androgeo, Phaedra, and
Ariadne.
Minos was renown throughout Crete for his learning and fairness, having
sent his loyal servant Talos across the island carrying copper tablets
that had writ upon them Minos' wise laws and administering justice. However,
he was not known for his military strength, despite the fact that the labrys,
or double axe, had all but become his standard, and a time came when the
youngest brother, Sarpedon, challenged his reign. Minos, taking the path
of peace, asked the gods to give him a sign as proof of his Divine Right
to rule. From the waves came forth a white bull, incontrovertible evidence
of the gods' favor. Sarpedon was banished by Minos and went off to later
rule Lycia, as a Pirate King. In the midst of his celebration, Minos conveniently
forgot to slay the fine ivory bull sent by the gods.
Perhaps as divine revenge, though many suspect that the bull was actually
the Father of the Gods himself up to his old tricks, Minos' wife became
lustfully infatuated with the White Bull. Her desperation was so great
that Minos eventually gave into her whim and ordered Daedalus to design
a hollow wooden cow for his wife to hide within, in order to consummate
her unnatural cravings. Once the deed was done, the White Bull walked back
into the sea, and shortly later Pasiphae gave birth to a son, Asterius.
