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Meet the Minotaur Trivia Quiz

An introduction to the Minotaur myth.

A multiple-choice quiz by turtle52. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
turtle52

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
364,291

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
550

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. King Minos prayed to Poseidon for support in his struggle for the throne of Crete. What did Poseidon send him? Hint

Gold

Wooden horse

The Cretan Bull

An army of Amazon archers

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Question 2 of 10

2. Why was Poseidon displeased with King Minos? Hint

He kept the Cretan Bull for himself

He insulted the Amazon Queen

He slaughtered the Cretan Bull

He burnt the wooden horse

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Question 3 of 10

3. What was the name of King Minos' wife and the mother of the Minotaur? Hint

Persepone

Andromeda

Pasiphae

Ariadne

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Question 4 of 10

4. Was the Cretan Bull slain by Heracles?

Yes

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Question 5 of 10

5. By what name was the Minotaur known? Hint

Minion

Asterion

Spala

Bucephalus

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Question 6 of 10

6. Half man and half bull, the Minotaur was a fearsome creature. How was he confined? Hint

In a cage

In the centre of a labyrinth

Locked in a cell

Chained to a wall

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Question 7 of 10

7. What was the Minotaur fed? Hint

Seven Athenian maids and youths

Seven bulls and cows

Seven Cretan maids and youths

Bread and water

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Question 8 of 10

8. A son of Aegeus of Athens resolved to stop this slaughter and chose to go to Crete as one of the seven youths and kill the Minotaur. Who was this hero? Hint

Perseus

Androgeus

Heracles

Theseus

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Question 9 of 10

9. King Minos had a beautiful daughter called Ariadne who was totally smitten with the handsome hero. How did she help him defeat the Minotaur? Hint

Poisoned the Minotaur's water supply

Gave him a sword and a ball of string

Provided a map and compass

Pleaded with her father to destroy the Minotaur

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Why did Aegeus throw himself into the sea?

Hint

He saw a black-sailed ship coming into port

King Minos invaded Athens as retribution for the death of the Minotaur

His wife had died

He thought Theseus would make a better king

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. King Minos prayed to Poseidon for support in his struggle for the throne of Crete. What did Poseidon send him?

Answer: The Cretan Bull

When the beautiful, white Cretan Bull came to Minos from the sea, it was seen as a sign of favour and Minos was awarded sovereignty.

2. Why was Poseidon displeased with King Minos?

Answer: He kept the Cretan Bull for himself

Minos was supposed to sacrifice the Cretan Bull but he admired the creature so much that he kept him for his own herd and sacrificed one of his own bulls.

3. What was the name of King Minos' wife and the mother of the Minotaur?

Answer: Pasiphae

Displeased with Minos, Poseidon arranged for Pasiphae to fall in love with the Cretan Bull. With the help of Daedalus, who built her a hollow wooden cow, she consummated the relationship and conceived the Minotaur.

4. Was the Cretan Bull slain by Heracles?

Answer: No

Heracles' seventh labour was to capture the Cretan Bull. He did so easily and released the creature onto mainland Greece where it rampaged around the Plain of Marathon. It was eventually slain by Theseus.

5. By what name was the Minotaur known?

Answer: Asterion

The Minotaur was named for Asterion, a previous king of Crete and foster-father of Minos. The name means 'starry one' in Greek.

6. Half man and half bull, the Minotaur was a fearsome creature. How was he confined?

Answer: In the centre of a labyrinth

Daedalus was once again called upon to construct an elaborate maze to confine the cannibalistic Minotaur.

7. What was the Minotaur fed?

Answer: Seven Athenian maids and youths

Blaming the Athenian King, Aegeus, for the death of his son, Minos waged war and defeated Athens in battle. As tribute he demanded that seven maids and seven youths be sent to Crete regularly to be locked in the labyrinth and devoured by the Minotaur.

8. A son of Aegeus of Athens resolved to stop this slaughter and chose to go to Crete as one of the seven youths and kill the Minotaur. Who was this hero?

Answer: Theseus

Theseus had already slain the Cretan Bull and was confident he could kill the Minotaur too. The ship that bore him and others to Crete bore a black sail to denote its sad mission but Theseus promised his father he would replace it with a white one if he was successful and returning to Athens.

9. King Minos had a beautiful daughter called Ariadne who was totally smitten with the handsome hero. How did she help him defeat the Minotaur?

Answer: Gave him a sword and a ball of string

The string enabled Theseus to find his way back through the maze to the waiting Ariadne after he had killed the Minotaur. They and the remaining Athenians then escaped Crete on the black-sailed ship that had borne them. But, alas for Ariadne, he was not as smitten as she was - he abandoned her while she slept on the island of Naxos. She eventually married Dionysus.

10. Why did Aegeus throw himself into the sea?

Answer: He saw a black-sailed ship coming into port

Theseus seems to be a little forgetful. Not only did he sail away while Ariadne slept but he forgot to exchange the black sail for a white one, as he had promised. Believing his son dead, his father threw himself into the Aegean Sea and drowned.

Source: Author turtle52

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor LadyCaitriona before going online.
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