Mazes, Minotaurs and Minoans

This week in history T studied life in early Crete. He was especially taken with the myth of King Minos and the Minotaur. He built a maze out of legos and used a string to mark the path out just like the hero of the myth Theseus. We used the suggestion in the SOTW AG and built a Minoan ship. To construct our Minoan sailing ship we used this wonderful tutorial from Ikat Bag. Our Minoan sailing ship is even complete with a black sail. According to legend Theseus was supposed to put a white sail on his ship if he had successfully slain the Minotaur. Alas, poor Theseus forgot to change his sail and returned home donning a black sail. His father King Aegeus was so distraught over his son supposed death that he flung himself into the sea. To honor his father’s death Theseus named this sea the Aegean Sea. We have had a blast reenacting this myth. All week I have overheard T engaging in fierce battle against the Minotaur and sailing home victorious....there has even been a dramatic suicidal death plunge scene using a lego mini-figure. T is enthralled with this period of history. We have begun reading D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths and it is a hit so far. This history smitten Mama is thrilled to see T so engaged in the stories of the past.