Heracles and the Cretan Bull
Heracles seems to be the only one who can keep Poseidon’s rampaging white bull under control.
Heracles seems to be the only one who can keep Poseidon’s rampaging white bull under control.
This post is number 7 in the series Twelve Labours of Heracles
News that a mad bull is loose on Crete and destroying crops and livelihoods reaches Eurystheus, and naturally he thinks at once that the gods have given him another opportunity to dispose of his cousin Heracles.
WHEN King Minos of Crete promised to sacrifice to Poseidon whatever should next emerge from the sea, Poseidon kindly sent him a superb white bull.
Minos, however, could not bring himself to destroy so magnificent a beast, so he kept it for himself and substituted another from his own herds. At this, Poseidon’s bull went berserk, which is what gave Eurystheus the idea of sending Heracles to fetch it.
Poseidon was not best pleased either, and at his bidding Aphrodite induced Queen Pasiphaë to fall in love with the bull. A half bull, half man called the Minotaur was the result, which Minos eventually confined in the Labyrinth, an ingenious maze.
Meanwhile, Heracles wrestled its sire, Poseidon’s white bull, to the ground, and delivered it to Eurystheus – some say he carried it home on his shoulders. As soon as Heracles released it, the bull went mad again, causing havoc across all Arcadia before rampaging on to Marathon, where at last Theseus slew it.
Next in series: Heracles and the Mares of Diomedes
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Why did Poseidon give King Minos a white bull?
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Poseidon gave King Minos a white bull. Minos was supposed to sacrifice it to Poseidon. Minos added the bull to his own herds.