Category: | Our Mythical Childhood Survey

Jennifer Cook

Cook’s story opens with sixteen-year-old Ariadne abandoned on Naxos, furious that she fell for Theseus, who has taken up with her sister Phaedra and sailed home to Athens. As in the traditional version of the myth, Ariadne falls in love with Theseus when he arrives on Crete as one of the Athenian tributes, destined for death in the labyrinth. But in this story the Minotaur is not a monstrous beast, but instead a small child afflicted with a club foot, a hare-lip, and other deformities. Chi(...)

literary

YEAR: 2004

COUNTRY: Australia

TAGS: Ariadne Crete Dionysus Hecate / Hekate Labyrinth Minos Minotaur Pasiphae Plague Theseus

Johnny Capps , Julian Murphy, Howard Overman

Atlantis (Series)

Jason, a twenty-first-century young man in search of his lost father, travels in a submarine through an under-ocean portal and ends up on the shores of the ancient city of Atlantis ruled by King Minos. He befriends a yet unrecognized mathematical genius/geek Pythagoras and a prizefighter past his prime, Hercules. In this version of the Minotaur myth, victims for the monster are picked from among the inhabitants of the city in a lottery. Pythagoras draws a black stone, but his friends try to save(...)

audiovisual

YEAR: 2013

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Admetus Aeson Alcestis Anabasis Ariadne Ariadne’s brother Atalanta Baby Oedipus Baucis Cassandra Circe Daedalus Destiny Destiny – prophecies, attempts to cheat them Furies Hecate / Hekate Heptarian Heracles / Herakles Hercules High priest of Poseidon Icarus Jason Jason’s mother Jocasta Katabasis Laius Medea Medusa Melas Melas’ adoptive daughter Minos Minotaur Oedipus Oracle of Poseidon Oracles Orpheus Pandora’s Box Pasiphae Pasiphae’s nephew Philemon Pythagoras Tartarean Campe Telamon Thanatos Therus Tiresias Underworld Underworld – souls of the dead

David Elliott

Bull

Bull is a unique retelling of the Cretan mythic cycle in the form of a verse novel. The story is related through monologues by Poseidon, Minos, Pasiphae, Asterion, Ariadne, Daedalus and Theseus. Poseidon takes control of the narrative, relating how Minos prays to the gods for a sign to justify his right to rule. The god obliges by sending a beautiful milk white bull out of the ocean. But when Minos conceals the creature within his herds and sacrifices an inferior animal in its place, he incurs P(...)

literary

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Androgeos Ariadne Asterion Athens Crete Daedalus Fate Labyrinth Minos Minotaur Pasiphae Poseidon Theseus

Carole Hénaff, Hugh Lupton, Daniel Morden

Greek Myths: Three Heroic Tales

Greek Myths: Three Heroic Tales is a highly illustrated retelling of the myths of Demeter and Persephone, Theseus and the Minotaur, and Orpheus and Eurydice. There is at least one illustration on almost every facing pair of pages with the illustrations setting the events in antiquity. Each myth is divided into chapters in the manner of a novel.Demeter and Persephone begins by prompting the reader to imagine a tri-part world, Olympus above, the world of mortals, and the realm of the dead below. P(...)

literary

YEAR: 2017

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Afterlife Architecture Ariadne Athena/ Athene Athens Classical studies Crete Daedalus Demeter Dionysus Eleusinian Mysteries Fate Gods Greek music Greek mythology Hades Hades' Throne Hermes Icarus Immortality Katabasis Labyrinth Maze Minos Minotaur Mythology Nymphs Olympus Orpheus Pasiphae Persephone Pluto Proserpina Reception of classical antiquity Theseus Underworld Zeus Zeus' Throne

Gary Margrove

Hercules Son of God (Series, Book 5): Deceit of the Gods

This book is written as the fourth in a series of five as an exposition of the deadly threats facing our planet in the face of the Anunnaki (“relatives of Anu, ruler of the planet Nibiru”) and their attempts to take over the Earth. The author asserts that he has written this book as a service to the public, educating all as to the apocalyptic dangers that lie ahead. The writing, using second person narrative addressed to the reader, is peppered with URLs to extra reading material, bo(...)

literary

YEAR: 2013

TAGS: Achilles Alcmene Antiope Ares Artemis Cerberus Chronos Creon Diomedes Eos Erebus Geryon Hades Helios Hera Heracles / Herakles Hercules Hippolyta Hydra Marduk Medusa Megara Minos Nabu Nereus Olympus Pasiphae Philoctetes Rhea Selene Styx Zeus

Deirdre Barry, Richard Morss

I’m a Monster (Series, 52 Episodes)

2D animation series for children of pre-school age (4-8 years), about monsters from various parts of the world. In each episode of the series (duration: 2 minutes) we meet another character who presents himself to the audience (with the voice of an actor) and tells some fun facts about himself.* Most of presented characters are well-known – they come from mythology of different cultures, from literature, movies etc. The material is rich, colorful and original. In twelve episodes of th(...)

audiovisual

YEAR: 2010

COUNTRY: Ireland

TAGS: Acropolis Andromeda Aphrodite Apollo Apollo’s bow Ares Arges Argonauts Argos Ariadne Artemis Artemis’ Arrows of Moonlight Artemis’ bow Asterion Athena/ Athene Athena’s Temple Basilisk Brontes Centaur Centaurs Cerberus Cetes Charybdis Chimera Chiron Chrisador Colosseum Cretan Empire Crete Crommyonian Sow Cyclops / Cyclopes Daedalus Dark Pit of Tartarus Dionysus Echidna Erinyes Furies Gaia / Gaea Giants Goddess Goddess of Earth Gods Gorgon Gorgon Hair Gorgons Gorgon’s Head Greece Greek columns Greek Gods Greek language Greek legend Greek sailor Greeks Hades Hekatoncheires Helmet of Invisibility Heracles / Herakles Hercules Hero Heroes Homer Hydra Iliad Iolaos Ixion Kraken Kronos / Cronus Labyrinth Lyre Medusa Medusa’s Cave Medusa’s Head Mermaids Merman Minos (King) Minos’ Palace Minotaur Minotaur’s Maze Mintotaur’s Labyrinth Muses Odysseus/ Ulysses Odyssey Olympians Orpheus Palace at Knossos Pasiphae Pegasus Persephone Perseus Philyra Phorcys Pliny the Elder Poseidon Priestess Romans Rome Scylla Sea Sea Nymphs Sicily Sirens Sphinx Springs of Amymone Steropes Tartarus Temple Theseus Thessaly Thetis Thunder Thunderbolt Titans Trident Typheous Typhon Uranus Vases Vessel Western Gateway to the Ancient Greek Land Winged Horse Winged mythical creatures Zeus

Malorie Blackman

Noughts & Crosses

Sephy Hadley and Callum McGregor are best friends as children, but they live in a world where dark-skinned Crosses like Sephy dominate every aspect of society while the pale-skinned Noughts like Callum are oppressed. The history behind this oppression hints at an inversion of the power dynamics of classical history. Meanwhile, both Sephy (‘Persephone’) and her sister, Minerva, have classically-inspired names, recalling the Ancient Greek queen of the Underworld and the goddess of wisd(...)

literary

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Carthage Demeter Hades Katabasis Minerva Minotaur Pasiphae Persephone Punic Wars Rome

Sulari Gentill

The Hero Trilogy (Series, Book 3): The Blood of Wolves

The Blood of Wolves finds the young Hero and her adopted brothers, Machaon, Lycon and Cadmus back on the slopes of Mt Ida. The arrival of one of the Trojan refugees who left with Aeneas after Troy’s fall soon sets them and their guardian wolf Lupa on another long journey. This time all the Herdsmen leave, as Pan warns that Ida will soon fall to its land-hungry neighbours. They go to find a new home for themselves and to help Aeneas, who they are told has been imprisoned on Crete; their adv(...)

literary

YEAR: 2013

COUNTRY: Australia

TAGS: Acestes Achaemenides Achilles Aeneas Alcippe Anchises Andromache Anna Ariadne Astyanax Celaeno Dido Euryalus Harpies Hector Ilioneus Iulus Latinus Lavinia Minos (King) Minotaur Nausicaa Neoptolemus Nisus Palinarus Pan Pasiphae Patroclus Penthesilea Polyphemus Scamandrios Troy Turnus Venus

Stefan Weinfeld , Jerzy Wróblewski

The Legends of Maze Island [Legendy Wyspy Labiryntu]

The Legends of Maze Island include classical Greek myths associated with the island of Crete: the abduction of Europa by Zeus, his numerous love affairs, the whole story of Daedalus and Icarus, the reign of Minos, insane passion of Pasiphae for the bull of Poseidon, the construction of a labyrinth to house the monstrous Minotaur. The comic book contains also related myths such as those associated with the life of Theseus, Medea, and the son of Poseidon.(...)

literary

YEAR: 1989

COUNTRY: Poland

TAGS: Ariadne Athens Crete Daedalus Icarus Labyrinth Medea Minos Minos (King) Minotaur Pasiphae Poseidon Punishment for acting against the will of gods Sins against gods Theseus Zeus

Russell Punter

The Minotaur (Part of the Usborne Young Reading series. Series One - Upper Intermediate)

This book is a retelling of the traditional myth of Theseus and the Minotaur (for which see e.g. Diodorus of Sicily, Library, book 4; Plutarch, Theseus; Apollodorus, Epitome, 1.7; Apollodorus, Library, 3; Ovid, Metamorphoses, 8.155-182). It opens with Aegeus receiving a letter from Minos, and closes with Theseus back in Athens having completed his mission but having lost his father in the process. The primary function of this retelling of ancient myth. is to provide children with reading ma(...)

literary

YEAR: 2009

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Architecture Ariadne Athens Classical studies Crete Dionysus Gods Greek mythology Labyrinth Maze Minos Minotaur Pasiphae Reception Theseus

Robert (Bob) Blaisdell, Althea (Thea) Kliros

The Story of Hercules (in Easy-to-Read Type)

Hercules narrates his story, beginning with his birth as the mortal son of a god. He talks of how he was child prodigy in warfare, but failed at learning music. After killing the teacher that belittles him about failing at music, Hercules goes out into the world to learn what he can. After Hera challenges Zeus to prove Hercules is worthy of being immortal, Hercules jumps at the opportunity and completes twelve labours. (...)

literary

YEAR: 1997

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Achelous Achilles Admetus Aegan Sea Aeolia Aeolus Aeson Alcestis Alcmene Alcyonian Lake Althaea Amazons Amphitryon Antaeus (King) Aphrodite Apollo Apples of the Hesperides Arcadia Ares Argo Argolid Argonauts Athena/ Athene Atlas Augeas Autolycos Automedusa Black Sea Calydon Castor Centaurs Cerberus Ceryneian hind Chiron Cretan Bull Crete Death Deianeira Diomedes Echidna Elerion Enkelados Erymanthian Boar Eurysthaeus Eurystheus Eurytos Flesh-eating horses Gaia / Gaea Geryon Giants Golden Fleece Golden Vine Greece Hades Hephaestus Hera Heracles / Herakles Hercules Hesion Hippolyta's Belt Hydra Hylas Immortality Iolaos Iole Iphicles Ithaca Jason Kronos / Cronus Lernaean Hydra Linus Minos (King) Minotaur Mount Erymanthos Mount Olympus Mudrikion Mycenae Nemean lion Nephele Nessus Nymphs Odetia Odysseus/ Ulysses Orpheus Pallene Pasiphae Peleponnese Perseus Pholos Pillars of Hercules Poseidon Rhea Stymphalian Birds Telamon Tervalonios Thebes Theiodamas (KIng) Themiscyra / Themyscira Thespis Tiryns Titans Trisia Troy Twelve Labours of Heracles Typhon Xenop Zeus

Sarah Coghill

The Twelve Labors of Hercules

Sarah Coghill relates the twelve tasks of Hercules in a simple, unembellished format. She takes the twelve labors and, in twelve chapters, details the challenges which Hercules faces in accomplishing his tasks. Without stinting on detail, Coghill methodically works through the tasks, providing information on relevant details of Hercules adventures as she goes.(...)

literary

YEAR: 2011

TAGS: Abderos Aegeus Amazons Athena/ Athene Atlas Cerberus Classical myth Demeter Diomedes Eryx Eurystheus Geryon Greece Hades Hera Heracles / Herakles Heracles’ life Hercules Heroism Hippolyta Hydra Iolaus Ladon Minos Molorchus Mythology Pasiphae Persephone Pholus Poseidon Prometheus Zeus

Gary Andrews, James Evelyn Ford , David Salariya

Theseus and the Minotaur

The author tells the myth about Theseus and the Minotaur. At the beginning, readers learn how the half bull half man was born. Later on, the story is told of the murder of Androgeos, son of Minos and Pasiphae: his death was the reason why Minos declared war on Athens. Subsequently, the reader learns about Poseidon’s revenge – the birth of the Minotaur. Minos asked Daedalus to build a maze under his castle, where he wanted to imprison the monster. Minos demanded that the Athenians in (...)

literary

YEAR: 2004

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Ariadne Crete Daedalus Icarus Labyrinth Medea Minos Minotaur Pasiphae Poseidon Punishment for acting against the will of gods Theseus

Jenny Oldfield, Bee Willey

Wings of Icarus

This book narrates the story of Daedalus and Icarus. They were trapped on the island of Crete as king Minos’ prisoners. They try to escape many times, until one day Daedalus devises wings for them to fly away from the island. Alas Icarus flies too close to the sun, his wings melt and he falls into the sea.(...)

literary

YEAR: 2007

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Daedalus Icarus Minos Minotaur Pasiphae