Also called Asterion, Minotauros.
Their story
When Minos broke his promise to sacrifice a splendid bull to Poseidon, the god made his wife Pasiphae fall in love with it, and she bore the Minotaur, whose name was Asterion. Minos hid him in the labyrinth built by Daedalus, and fed him Athenian youths and maidens as tribute. Theseus killed him, finding his way out with a thread given by Ariadne.
Best times to give to them
- When facing something hidden you have avoided
- When walking a labyrinth
What they like being given
- None are traditional; a ball of thread on the altar recalls Ariadne's help
- A walk through a labyrinth or maze
How to honour them
- Walk a labyrinth slowly as a meditation on facing what is at the centre.
- Remember Ariadne: nobody comes out of the maze alone.
How they can help you
- Facing hidden fears
- Consequences of broken promises
- Accepting help
Symbols
- bull's head
- labyrinth
- thread
- double axe
Sources
- Apollodorus, Library 3.1.3-4, 3.15.8
- Apollodorus, Epitome 1.7-9
- Plutarch, Life of Theseus 15-19