Pasiphaë

Mythology

Pasiphaë is a significant figure in Greek mythology, where she is best known as the wife of King Minos of Crete and the mother of the Minotaur. She was a daughter of Helios, the sun god, and Perseis, an Oceanid. This lineage made her a sorceress, capable of magical feats. Pasiphaë's name, which means "wide-shining," reflects her divine heritage.

A depiction of a woman in classical Greek attire, possibly in a garden or forest setting.

Marriage to Minos

Pasiphaë was given in marriage to Minos, who had won the throne of Crete by claiming that the gods supported his rule. To prove his divine backing, Minos prayed to Poseidon to send a bull from the sea, which he promised to sacrifice. Poseidon sent the bull, but Minos was so taken with its majesty that he substituted a different bull for the sacrifice. This act of hubris angered Poseidon, who decided to punish Minos by making Pasiphaë fall in love with the bull.

The Birth of the Minotaur

Under the influence of Poseidon's spell, Pasiphaë commissioned Daedalus, a master craftsman, to build a hollow wooden cow that she could hide inside to mate with the bull. The result of this union was the Minotaur, a monstrous creature with the body of a man and the head of a bull. Ashamed and fearful of the Minotaur, Minos had Daedalus construct a labyrinth to hide the creature.

Other Children

In addition to the Minotaur, Pasiphaë and Minos had several other children, including Ariadne, Androgeus, Phaedra, and Glaucus. Each of these offspring had their own roles in various Greek myths, further entwining Pasiphaë's story with the larger tapestry of Greek mythology.

Pasiphaë's Curse

In some versions of the myth, Pasiphaë cursed Minos as revenge for his infidelity. She used her sorcery to cast a spell that caused him to ejaculate serpents, scorpions, and centipedes when he was with his mistresses. This curse ensured that he could only safely have sex with Pasiphaë, who was immune to the deadly creatures.

In Literature

Pasiphaë's story has been retold in numerous ancient and modern works of literature. She is a character in Ovid's "Metamorphoses" and Virgil's "Aeneid." In modern times, Pasiphaë has appeared in works such as Rick Riordan's "Percy Jackson & the Olympians" series and Madeline Miller's "Circe."