Labyrinth Site Synonymous with Minotaur Unearthed?

Labyrinth Site Synonymous with Minotaur Unearthed?

blogs.discovery.com

The site that inspired the ancient Greek Labyrinth, a mythical maze that supposedly housed the bull-man Minotaur, may have just been unearthed in Crete by an international team of researchers.

Oxford University geographer Nicholas Howarth and his colleagues believe a cave complex near Gortyn on the Greek island could have led to the myth. The cave system consists of a twisting and turning network of underground tunnels. Howarth describes it as "dark and dangerous."

(visit the link for the full news article)

I found this and thought it was pretty cool. I don't have much to add, but wanted to put it out here for anyone interested in ancient Greek mythology. Also, because this is yet another cave system that has been unearthed recently in association with our ancient past.

The 2.5-mile-long underground system is even called Labyrinthos Caves by locals. Some of its paths lead to large chambers, while others result in dead ends.

It will be interesting to see what archaeologists uncover in this labyrinth over the next few months/years.

Here is a video that accompanies the article:

Enjoy!



blogs.discovery.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

[edit on 19-10-2009 by Aggie Man]

very awesome find op,

I will be looking forward to seeing what they discover.

They say that the ancients confused elephant skulls for the mythical cyclops creatures.

i wonder what they will say was actually the minotaur.

The minatour was probably one real badass guy who wore a bulls head over for a mask just to look awesome. Seriously.

reply to post by Desolate Cancer


a kangaroo?

reply to post by Aggie Man


Awesome post!

Thanks for bringing this to our attention... I once heard that the Minotaur represented what happened each year as a human sacrifice...

wild stuff!

Next thing you know we will find the wings of Daedalus !

Great post. It would be great if they can find some artifacts, etchings on the walls or other markers that people had made or used while trying to find a way out.

Nice find!!

I hope they really come up with something that is really worth it.

It's very reaffirming and reminding of our humanity when something like this is discovered and can show us our roots in a way that only history can. Great find!

Technically if there is a real maze, we cant call it a myth anymore right ?

The opening words of the Fellowship of the Ring always spring to mind when I read stuff like this. Over time, history becomes legend, and then after more time, legend becomes myth.

Is it such a terrible notion that perhaps much of the wonder and fantasy we see in our mythologies are actually surviving accounts of real events?