This week we dropped the incredible Greek Mythology inspired Labyrinth collection. This blog will explore and explain the meaning behind the captivating artwork featured on this incredible apparel range. This collection is powerful, captivating and tells a story of an incredible half man, half bull beast and the Labyrinth that housed him.
Greek Mythology says that in Ancient Crete, Queen Pasiphae of Crete mated with a bull that was sent by the thunder god Zeus. As a result, the queen gave birth to a creature that was half man – half bull. The queen's husband King Minos of Crete was embarrassed by the birth of the beast, but did not want to kill the Minotaur, so he decided to hide the monster in the great Labyrinth constructed by Daedalus at the Minoan Palace of Knossos. According to the myth, Minos was imprisoning his enemies in this Labyrinth so that the Minotaur could eat them. The labyrinth was said to have an immensely complicated construction that no man could ever find their way out alive.
The myth says that the Bull who Impregnated the Queen killed the son of Queen Pasiphae and King Minos, Androgeus during the Panathenaic Games. The King was infuriated by this and insisted Aegeus the king of Athens send seven men and women every year to the Minotaur to advertise the plague caused by the death of Androgeus. In the third year, Theseus, son of Aegeus, decided to be one of the seven young men that would go to Crete, in order to kill the Minotaur. King Minos knew that even if he did manage to kill the Minotaur, Theseus would never be able to exit the Labyrinth.
Princess Ariadne, daughter of King Minos fell madly in love with Theseus and decided to help him on his venture in the Labyrinth. She gave him a thread and told him to unravel it as he entered deeper into the Labyrinth, so that he would find his way out after killing the monster. Theseus followed her suggestion and entered the Labyrinth with the thread. Theseus managed to kill the Minotaur and save the Athenians, and with Ariadne’s thread he managed to retrace his way out.
Theseus promised his father that he would put up white sails on his return from Crete, allowing him to know in advance that he was coming back alive. The boat would return with the black sails if Theseus was killed. Theseus’ boat stopped at Naxos and the Athenians had a long celebration. After the celebrations Ariadne fell asleep on the shore and did not enter the boat that sailed to Athens. Theseus figured out that Ariadne was no longer with them when it was too late and he was so upset that he forgot the promise made to his father and did not change the sails. The King was waiting at Cape Sounion to see the sails of the boat. He saw the black sails from afar and presumed his son was dead. He dropped himself to the waters, committing suicide and since then, this sea is called the Aegean Sea.
The artwork featured on the collection features intricate pattern work depicting the great Labyrinth, paired with greek inspired pattern work. The centre front artwork displays the head of the Minotaur while the artwork on the back centre front of the cool hoodies for men, shirts and sweaters displays the iconic moment that Theseus defeated the minotaur. Throughout the design there are depictions of the men and women sent to Crete bravely attempting and failing to put an end to the beast.
We hope you love this collection as much as we do, stay tuned as we will be bringing you some more Greek Inspired designs like this very soon!
-Lunafide Team <3
