Theseus and the Minotaur

Where are we?

How should l know?

l don't like it.

You should learn not to bark!

You shouldn't rob the dead! You take coins from their mouths.

l didn't take coins, l exchanged them for smaller valuables.

That 's terrible. The gods notice, you insult people--

You bite people.

l'm a dog. lt's my business to bite people.

Athenian pig!

That's you!

Do you know where you are?

Look around. Are there bones at your feet?

Ask them about that monster.

Ask them how to get out!

We should never have come to Crete.

l've never liked islands. You get stuck on them.

The Labyrinth.

This must be the Labyrinth of Knossos.

Nobody's been here for centuries.

This was the Minotaur's prison.

1,000 Athenians died in these passages.

1,000!

That's a nice round number. Let's leave it at that.

The Minotaur must have charged that way.

Trampled that very path.

The Minotaur.... When you say charged, do you mean....

What do you mean?

Charged, charged.

Half man, half bull. Mad with hunger and sadness.

Until a hero came with a bold heart and a bright sword.

10 centuries ago, a creature was born. Child of a terrible passion.

Son of a queen, son of a bull.

A creature so monstrous...

Minos, King of Crete, had this maze built to hide him.

Ever seven ears...

there was a blood tribute paid to Crete.

Ever seven ears...

a black-sailed ship came from Athens.

Seven ouths in their prime...

seven pure maidens were taken as sacrifice...

brought here to the labrinth...

where ever passage is a promise broken.

Ever wa out is a wa in.

And where the Minotaur's savage appetite for human flesh...

could be dealt with in the dark.

But there was one person who came and went at will...

in the beast's domain.:

Ariadne, daughter of Minos, the king.

Ever da she visited the creature...

cared for it, pitied it...

down in the dark, shut awa with its secrets.

lt's me. l'm here.

Come close.

Come here.

She knew the heart was human, no matter what the face.

Come close.

No matter what she saw.

No matter what she heard.

The cries of the victims...

the pitiful cries...

awful.

Awful.

Many leagues away from Crete...

a bull was being sacrificed...

watched by a mother and her son, Theseus.

She had never told him who his father was...

bound by a promise made 1 7 years before.

Now Theseus was growing up, and she knew that soon he would leave her.

Just as his father had done before him.

Why do you weep? At the bull's death?

No. No.

Then what?

l was thinking of the pine forest.

Of a rock, and the high ground, and the forest.

When you can move the rock, you will find out who your father is.

l cannot!

Then wait one summer.

Why are you happy?

Because when you can move the rock, you will leave me.

Never. l promise.

But Theseus couldn't wait another summer.

He was there, morning after morning...

straining at the rock, tearing his muscles.

Until one da...

the dawn still damp in his hair...

he felt the rock give.

Then, with one last effort...

he heaved it awa.

Mother...

was my father a great warrior?

Your father is a king.

Your father is Aegeus, King of Athens.

Theseus heard the stor of his birth...

and vowed to go to Athens...

and make himself known to his father.

l will come back. l promise.

Go to Athens by sea.

Don't risk the coast road.

Danger will find you soon enough.

Did he go by sea?

No. He went by the coast road, plagued by robbers, giants, bandits.

And on the long journey, he slew Procrustes...

Sciron the kicker, Sinis the pine bender...

until at last he came to the great fortress of Athens...

rising up from the sea.

And with the dust of the journe still on his skin...

he sought audience with Aegeus, his father.

It was 17 ears since Aegeus had left Theseus' mother.

Now his beard was gra.

And another woman was b his side.:

Medea.

l thank you, lord, for greeting a stranger.

Word of your great adventures reaches the king.

Slayer of giants, we hear. Scourge of bandits.

l wished the road between my home and Athens safe for travelers.

Where is that home?

Troezen in the west.

Troezen?

My lord is trusting.

l tell him, as his priestess, as mother to his sons...

be wary of those who arrive with blood on their hands.

l seek purification from the king.

Of course you do.

What is your name, warrior?

Theseus, lord.

Your lineage?

Some say my father is of the sea. Some say he is a great king.

The king is insulted by riddles. Does he have your allegiance?

l would give my life for him.

l would take life from all who are his enemies.

The king invites you to feast with him this evening.

First, with his blessing, go to the river Cephissus...

and be purified.

Then you are welcome in Athens.

I don't like her. She's a witch.

She was a witch. She was also a mother.

And she knew Theseus.

She knew nothing would stand in his way.

Not love, not fear, not a promise.

Theseus went to the River Cephissus and washed himself...

in readiness for the feast.

Medea, wanting the kingdom for her own sons...

also made preparation...

mixing secret herbs and poisonous spices.

Welcome, hero.

My lady, my lord.

Your sword.

Forgive me, lord. l wear it in peace.

Drink, friend, drink the wine.

No!

Theseus, my son!

My son!

Seize her. Seize the sorceress!

Curse on you, Aegeus of Athens. A curse on your son.

You will bring each other nothing but pain and sorrow.

Before a year is out, grief will poison you. Poison you.

Spitting out her foul curse...

she vanished, and was seen no more.

But is it true?

Did they bring each other nothing but pain and sorrow?

Was it terrible?

No. At first it was wonderful.

The king, who had rarely smiled, now laughed.

Age dropped from him...

and Theseus walked the fortress of the Acropolis...

with the proud steps of a prince.

No, no.

At first it was wonderful.

There's a ''but'' coming up.

But...

there was alread a curse on Athens...

and the time had come...

for 14 more of her sons and daughters...

to set sail for Crete...

dressed in the white robes of sacrifice.

Stop!

-Take off the robe. -Theseus!

Take off the robe!

Every seven years, Father.

Stretching into the future. Our sons and our sons' sons.

Our wives' daughters, and their daughters, too.

Not any more.

Son, don't! l beg you.

What is this Minotaur of theirs?

Who has seen it?

l have! ln my dreams l have seen it.

lt waits for me, and, l, Theseus, son of Aegeus...

who slew Procrustes, and Sciron the kicker...

and Sinis the pine bender, l will fix the monster...

and rid Athens of its fear.

Raise your heads, sons and daughters of Athens.

Lift up your hearts.

We will return with the head of the beast on our prow.

Don't return under a black sail.

lf you come back safe, hoist a white sail.

Son, do you hear me?

l shall be watching every day from the cliffs.

The white sail, father.

Have no fear. l will return, l promise.