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[[File:Minotaur2.jpg|thumb|right|The Minotaur of the [[Land of Fiction]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Mind Robber]]'')]]
{{wikipediainfo}}
[[File:Minotaur.jpg|thumb|right|The minotaur of [[Atlantis]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Time Monster]]'')]]
{{Infobox Individual
The '''Minotaur''' was a creature from [[Greek]] [[mythology]]. It was said to have the head of a [[cattle|bull]] and the body of a [[human|man]].
|image        = Minotaur.jpg
|species      = Human
|species2    = Cattle{{!}}bull
|species3    =
|job          = Athlete
|affiliation  = Kronos
|affiliation2 = King of Minos
|origin      = Atlantis
|first cs    = The Mind Robber (TV story)
|appearances  = {{appears}}
|main actor  = Richard Ireson
|other actor  = Dave Prowse
}}
{{Looks like|Minotaur (species)|Nimon|Tauride|}}
The '''Minotaur''' was a being with the  head of a [[cattle|bull]] and the body of a [[human|man]]. He was the subject of several myths recorded in [[Greek mythology]]. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Mythical Monsters (short story)}}, {{cs|A History of Humankind (novel)}}) There also existed an extraterrestrial species of [[Minotaur (species)|Minotaurs]], related to the [[Nimon]]s, who fed on [[faith]], ([[TV]]: {{cs|The God Complex (TV story)}}) and several other similar-looking species ([[COMIC]]: {{cs|Agent Provocateur (comic story)}}) including the [[Tauride]]. ([[COMIC]]: {{cs|Minor Trouble (comic story)}})


The [[Second Doctor]] and [[Zoe Heriot]] encountered the Minotaur in the [[Land of Fiction]]. It vanished when they denied its existence. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Mind Robber]]'')
== Biography ==
=== Origins ===
The [[Third Doctor]] learned that the Minotaur was real during a trip to [[Atlantis]]. The creature was formerly a member of [[Dalios]]'s court, a great athlete who desired the strength of a bull and a long life in which to use it. [[Kronos]] granted him his wish, and the creature was made guardian of the [[Crystal of Kronos]] until the Doctor defeated it. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Time Monster (TV story)}})


The [[Third Doctor]] learned that the Minotaur was real during a trip to [[Atlantis]]. The creature was formerly a member of [[Dalios]]'s court, a great athlete who desired the strength of a bull and a long life in which to use it. [[Kronos]] granted him his wish, and the creature was made guardian of the [[Crystal of Kronos]] until the Doctor defeated it. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Time Monster]]'')
=== Imprisonment ===
[[File:Hercules and the Minotaur.jpg|thumb|left|[[Hercules]] prepares to chain the Minotaur. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Mythical Monsters (short story)}})]]
The Minotaur was imprisoned by [[Minos (mythology)|King Minos]] of [[Crete]] in the middle of a huge, especially-designed maze built at [[Knossos]], which was called the [[Labyrinth]]. Forced to pay tribute to Minos, [[Athens]] sent seven young men and seven young women every nine years to be devoured by the Minotaur. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|A History of Humankind (novel)}}) According to another account, the Minotaur was imprisoned by the [[King of Minos]], and the sacrifices were not foreigners.


The Greek hero [[Theseus]] was renowned for fighting the Minotaur. The [[Fourth Doctor]] claimed to have given Theseus the ball of string that he used to find his way around the labyrinth in which the Minotaur resided. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Creature from the Pit]]'')
One of the tasks set to the superhuman hero [[Hercules]] was to capture the Minotaur, known by then as the "great bull of the King of Minos". Hercules walked into the maze and managed to chain the Minotaur. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Mythical Monsters (short story)}})


:''It is unknown if this is the same Minotaur from Atlantis or a different one.''
=== Death ===
However, the Minotaur was back in the Labyrinth by the time of his death. Athenian prince [[Theseus]] insisted on going as one of the men, and helped by [[Ariadne]] - the daughter of King Minos - he slew the Minotaur. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|A History of Humankind (novel)}}) The [[Fourth Doctor]] claimed to have given Theseus the ball of string that he used to find his way around the labyrinth in which the Minotaur resided. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Creature from the Pit (TV story)}})


Extraterrestrial life forms which resembled the Minotaur included the [[Nimon]]s, a related species called [[Minotaur (species)|the Minotaurs]] who were the Nimons' "distant cousins", the [[Tauride]] and [[Taureau]]'s race. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Horns of Nimon]]'', ''[[The God Complex]]'', [[COMIC]]: ''[[Minor Trouble]]'', [[COMIC]]: ''[[The Forgotten]]'')
== Legacy ==
[[File:Minotaur2.jpg|thumb|right|The Minotaur as seen in the [[Land of Fiction]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Mind Robber (TV story)}})]]
The Minotaur's story became a famous myth of the [[Greece|Greeks]] and [[Roman Empire|Romans]]. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Mythical Monsters (short story)}}) Indeed, prior to meeting the Minotaur in person in his [[Third Doctor|next incarnation]], ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Time Monster (TV story)}}) the [[Second Doctor]] believed the Minotaur to be a fictional character. When he and [[Zoe Heriot]] encountered a simulacrum of the Minotaur in the [[Land of Fiction]], they forced it to vanish by denying its existence. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Mind Robber (TV story)}}) [[Missy]] mentioned the Minotaur as one of the numerous characters she had defeated in order to take over the Land. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Wonderful Doctor of Oz (novel)}})


[[Homer]] recounted that the Greeks were "mad as minotaurs" about the [[Troy|Trojans]] controlling the [[Bosphorus]]. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Myth Makers (novelisation)}})


The [[Eighth Doctor]], [[Charley Pollard]] and [[C'rizz]] encountered an illusory Minotaur on [[Caerdroia]]. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|Caerdroia (audio story)}}) By the time of the [[War in Heaven]], the [[Great House]]s' labyrinthine [[records library]] had sprouted a Minotaur librarian calling himself [[Mr Smith (A Labyrinth of Histories)|Mr Smith]]. He knew of the original myth, and highlighted that "the Minotaur" was a lone figure, not a species. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|A Labyrinth of Histories (audio story)}})


{{wikipediainfo}}
The [[Tenth Doctor]] faced a minotaur in the virtual fantasy world created by [[Craig Phillips]]. ([[COMIC]]: {{cs|F.A.Q. (comic story)|F.A.Q.}})
{{NameSort}}


== Behind the scenes ==
* The Minotaur's role in ''[[Mythical Monsters (short story)|Mythical Monsters]]'' conflates him with the {{w|Cretan Bull}}, who, in the original mythology, was in fact the Minotaur's father.
[[Category:Mythological creatures]]
[[Category:Mythological creatures]]
[[Category:Land of Fiction characters]]
[[Category:Land of Fiction characters]]
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[[Category:Biologically modified individuals]]
[[Category:Biologically modified individuals]]
[[Category:Murderers]]
[[Category:Murderers]]
[[Category:15th century BC individuals]]
[[Category:Myths and legends from the real world]]

Latest revision as of 20:31, 8 March 2024

Minotaur

The Minotaur was a being with the head of a bull and the body of a man. He was the subject of several myths recorded in Greek mythology. (PROSE: Mythical Monsters [+]Loading...["Mythical Monsters (short story)"], A History of Humankind [+]Loading...["A History of Humankind (novel)"]) There also existed an extraterrestrial species of Minotaurs, related to the Nimons, who fed on faith, (TV: The God Complex [+]Loading...["The God Complex (TV story)"]) and several other similar-looking species (COMIC: Agent Provocateur [+]Loading...["Agent Provocateur (comic story)"]) including the Tauride. (COMIC: Minor Trouble [+]Loading...["Minor Trouble (comic story)"])

Biography[[edit] | [edit source]]

Origins[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Third Doctor learned that the Minotaur was real during a trip to Atlantis. The creature was formerly a member of Dalios's court, a great athlete who desired the strength of a bull and a long life in which to use it. Kronos granted him his wish, and the creature was made guardian of the Crystal of Kronos until the Doctor defeated it. (TV: The Time Monster [+]Loading...["The Time Monster (TV story)"])

Imprisonment[[edit] | [edit source]]

Hercules prepares to chain the Minotaur. (PROSE: Mythical Monsters [+]Loading...["Mythical Monsters (short story)"])

The Minotaur was imprisoned by King Minos of Crete in the middle of a huge, especially-designed maze built at Knossos, which was called the Labyrinth. Forced to pay tribute to Minos, Athens sent seven young men and seven young women every nine years to be devoured by the Minotaur. (PROSE: A History of Humankind [+]Loading...["A History of Humankind (novel)"]) According to another account, the Minotaur was imprisoned by the King of Minos, and the sacrifices were not foreigners.

One of the tasks set to the superhuman hero Hercules was to capture the Minotaur, known by then as the "great bull of the King of Minos". Hercules walked into the maze and managed to chain the Minotaur. (PROSE: Mythical Monsters [+]Loading...["Mythical Monsters (short story)"])

Death[[edit] | [edit source]]

However, the Minotaur was back in the Labyrinth by the time of his death. Athenian prince Theseus insisted on going as one of the men, and helped by Ariadne - the daughter of King Minos - he slew the Minotaur. (PROSE: A History of Humankind [+]Loading...["A History of Humankind (novel)"]) The Fourth Doctor claimed to have given Theseus the ball of string that he used to find his way around the labyrinth in which the Minotaur resided. (TV: The Creature from the Pit [+]Loading...["The Creature from the Pit (TV story)"])

Legacy[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Minotaur as seen in the Land of Fiction. (TV: The Mind Robber [+]Loading...["The Mind Robber (TV story)"])

The Minotaur's story became a famous myth of the Greeks and Romans. (PROSE: Mythical Monsters [+]Loading...["Mythical Monsters (short story)"]) Indeed, prior to meeting the Minotaur in person in his next incarnation, (TV: The Time Monster [+]Loading...["The Time Monster (TV story)"]) the Second Doctor believed the Minotaur to be a fictional character. When he and Zoe Heriot encountered a simulacrum of the Minotaur in the Land of Fiction, they forced it to vanish by denying its existence. (TV: The Mind Robber [+]Loading...["The Mind Robber (TV story)"]) Missy mentioned the Minotaur as one of the numerous characters she had defeated in order to take over the Land. (PROSE: The Wonderful Doctor of Oz [+]Loading...["The Wonderful Doctor of Oz (novel)"])

Homer recounted that the Greeks were "mad as minotaurs" about the Trojans controlling the Bosphorus. (PROSE: The Myth Makers [+]Loading...["The Myth Makers (novelisation)"])

The Eighth Doctor, Charley Pollard and C'rizz encountered an illusory Minotaur on Caerdroia. (AUDIO: Caerdroia [+]Loading...["Caerdroia (audio story)"]) By the time of the War in Heaven, the Great Houses' labyrinthine records library had sprouted a Minotaur librarian calling himself Mr Smith. He knew of the original myth, and highlighted that "the Minotaur" was a lone figure, not a species. (AUDIO: A Labyrinth of Histories [+]Loading...["A Labyrinth of Histories (audio story)"])

The Tenth Doctor faced a minotaur in the virtual fantasy world created by Craig Phillips. (COMIC: F.A.Q. [+]Loading...["F.A.Q. (comic story)","F.A.Q."])

Behind the scenes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The Minotaur's role in Mythical Monsters conflates him with the Cretan Bull, who, in the original mythology, was in fact the Minotaur's father.
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