Labyrinth

Maze built with Maze Maker

The Minoans were the first people to build labyrinths. These were large complicated mazes in which many people could get lost.

The Myth Behind the First Labyrinth

In Greek mythology Daedalus, an architect and inventor, designed the first labyrinth that imprisoned the Minotaur. This was a man-eating monster that was half man and half bull.

King Minos had a daughter named Ariadne. She fell in love with Theseus. He was the son of King Aegus of Athens. Adriadne told Theseus that she would help him kill the Minotaur if he would marry her. Theseus agreed.

To help Theseus get through the Labyrinth, Adriadne gave Theseus a magic ball of thread. At the entrance she tied one end of the thread to the lintel and told Theseus to unroll the ball as he went. By following the thread back, he would be able to find his way out. Theseus did this and killed the Minotaur. He and Adriadne left by ship.

Minos was angry over this. He imprisoned Daedalus, the Labyrinth's architect, and his son Icarus in the labyrinth. Daedalus made wax wings so they could fly out of the maze. In the escape Icarus flew too near the sun and the wax wings melted. He fell into the sea.

Daedalus fled to Sicily. He was welcomed by King Cocalus. Minos later tried to find Daedalus, but he was killed by the daughters of Cocalus. See photos from Knosses, The Palace of Minos.

Try your skill at solving this labyrinth. Use you arrow keys to move through the labyrinth.

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