Minos

Minos (Greek: Μίνως, Mínōs) was, in Greek mythology, a king of Crete, son of Zeus and Europa, and the founder of the first Cretan civilization, the Minoan. He was one of the three sons of Zeus and Europa, along with Rhadamanthus and Sarpedon. Minos is often referred to as a just king who, with his brothers, was raised and educated by the god Hermes. In some accounts, Minos is also mentioned as the son of Asterion, the king of Crete. He is best known for his role in the myth of the Minotaur, a monstrous creature with the body of a man and the head of a bull, which was confined in the Labyrinth built by Daedalus at the command of Minos. The name "Minos" is also associated with the term "Minoan," referring to the Bronze Age civilization that flourished on the island of Crete from around 2700 to 1450 BCE. The etymology of the name "Minos" is uncertain, but it may be derived from the Greek word "μηνίης" (mēníēs), meaning "wrath" or "anger," or from the Cretan word for "king." In Hebrew, the name is transliterated as מינוס (Minos). In Latin, the name is Minos, and in French, it is Minos.