
Minoan Bull Leaper
A History of the World in 100 Objects
Thesis in the Minotaur
In Greek myth, Minos had a very complex relationship with bulls. He was the son of Zeus, king of the gods, but in order to father him, Zeus had turned himself into a bull. His wife conceived an unnatural passion for a very beautiful bull, and the fruit of that obsession was the Minotaur - half man, half bull. Archaeologists were captivated by these tales when they explored Crete 100 years ago. A bronze sculpture of a bull with a figure leaping over it is now one of the highlights of the British Museum's Minoan collection.
00:00
Transcript
Play full episode
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.