Minos (English spelling)

Japanese: ミノス（英語表記）Minos

In Greek mythology, King of Crete. Son of Zeus and Europa, he was raised by King Asterion of Crete, who married Europa, and succeeded to the throne. At this time, his brothers Rhadamanthus and Sarpedon also claimed the right to succeed, but Minos prayed to Poseidon, who made a bull appear from the sea, proving that it was God's will for him to become king. However, he broke his promise to Poseidon and did not sacrifice the bull, but continued to keep it as a pet, which resulted in divine punishment. Pasiphae of Minos fell in love with the bull, and with the help of Daedalus, who had come from Athens and was staying at Minos' court, she fulfilled her desire and gave birth to the bull-headed monster, the Minotaur. Minos ordered Daedalus to build a labyrinth and imprison the Minotaur there, while at the same time, to punish his son Androgeus, who was killed after participating in the games held in Athens, he attacked Athens and forced it to surrender, and decided to send seven young men and women as tribute from the city every year to be eaten by the Minotaur. After the Minotaur was defeated by Theseus, Minos imprisoned Daedalus in the labyrinth along with his son Icarus, for teaching Theseus how to escape from the labyrinth at the request of his daughter Ariadne. When Daedalus escaped from the labyrinth by creating artificial wings, he inquired about Daedalus' whereabouts and found him at the home of King Cocalus of Sicily. He went to ask for his surrender, but was tricked by Cocalus and boiled to death in a bathtub by his daughters. The myth of Minos, however, is said to have been a friend of Zeus during his lifetime and to have been appointed judge of the underworld, a role he held alongside Rhadamanthus and Aeacus. The myth of Minos clearly reflects memories of the glory of the Minoan civilization on the island of Crete, which had a strong influence on Mycenaean civilization.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

ギリシア神話のクレタ王。ゼウスとエウロペの子で，エウロペと結婚したクレタ王アステリオンによって育てられ，その王位を継いだ。このとき彼の兄弟のラダマンチュスとサルペドンも継承権を主張したが，ミノスはポセイドンに祈り，海から雄牛を出現させてもらって，自分が王になるのが神意にかなうことを証明してみせた。ところが彼は，ポセイドンとの約束に違反し，この雄牛をいけにえにせず，飼い続けたために神罰を受け，ミノスのパシファエがこの牛に恋するようになり，アテネから来てミノスの宮廷に逗留していたダイダロスの助けをかりて欲望をとげ，牛頭の怪物ミノタウロスを生んだ。ミノスはダイダロスに命じ，迷宮を造らせてその中にミノタウロスを閉じ込める一方で，息子のアンドロゲオスが，アテネで催された競技に参加したあと殺害されたことを罰するため，アテネを攻めて降伏させ，この市から毎年7人ずつの若者と娘たちを貢物として送らせ，ミノタウロスのえじきにすることにした。ミノタウロスがテセウスに退治されると，ミノスは，彼の娘アリアドネに頼まれ迷宮から脱出する方法をテセウスに教えたかどで，ダイダロスを息子のイカロスとともに迷宮に幽閉した。ダイダロスが人工の翼をつくってそこから脱出すると，行くえをたずねて，シチリア島のコカロス王のところにいるのを突止め，みずから引渡しを求めに行ったが，コカロスにだまされ，その娘たちに浴槽の中で煮殺された。しかし生前ゼウスとも親交のあった彼は，冥府で死者を裁く法廷の判事に任じられ，ラダマンチュスおよびアイアコスとともにこの役を果しているという。ミノスの神話には明らかに，ミケーネ文明に強い影響を与えた，クレタ島のミノア文明の栄華の記憶が反映している。

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