The true history of the Minotaur: what archaeology reveals(nationalgeographic.fr)
27 pointsby joebigFeb 15, 2026

6 Comments

jmclnx•Feb 18, 2026
The article is in french
patrickmay•Feb 18, 2026
So we know the minotaur probably didn't speak English.
5555624•Feb 18, 2026
This appears to be the English version : https://archive.is/gsv8r
sejje•Feb 18, 2026
My browser has a translate feature. I imagine it's pretty standard.
1024core•Feb 18, 2026
English version, but paywalled: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/history-magazine/...

(can read in FF's "reader mode").

Archive link: https://archive.ph/gsv8r

MrDresden•Feb 18, 2026
It seems disabling JavaScript on that page also loads the full content.
internet_points•Feb 18, 2026
I always considered https://files.blogs.baruch.cuny.edu/wp-content/blogs.dir/397... the true one
gnatman•Feb 18, 2026
the Master
svilen_dobrev•Feb 18, 2026
partially related..

the Minotaur is one of the main "characters" in Physics of Sorrow by Georgi Gospodinov.

https://www.amazon.com/Physics-Sorrow-Georgi-Gospodinov/dp/1...

https://losangelesreview.org/book-review-the-physics-of-sorr...

rawgabbit•Feb 18, 2026
If I understand correctly, the article says the "maze" was actually the many rooms of the Cretan palace. The word "labyrinth" comes from the sacred ax called "labrys" used to kill the bulls during sacrifice. The minotaur was an invention symbolizing a foreign power that Athens fought with and will overcome?
sapphicsnail•Feb 18, 2026
The article mentions that Sappho referenced the Athenians sending sacrifices to Crete but I can't find the fragment anywhere and I'm guessing it doesn't exist.