Labyrinth

lab-y-rinth {lab-uh-rinth}
Basically, a maze. In Greek mythology, it was a maze hidden below the palace of King Minos where a half-man, half-bull, man-eating monster called the Minotaur lived. In the story of Theseus and the Minotaur, every seven years, the people of the city Athens had to send seven girls and seven boys to Crete to be fed to the monster. One year, Theseus, son of King Aegeus, decided do go to Crete and try to slay the Minotaur. He told his father that he would put up white sails if he succeeded, and black sails if he died. When he reached Crete, the daughter of Minos fell in love with him, and gave him a ball of yarn. When he got to the labyrinth, he tied the end to the door and unwound the string as he went, so that he could find his way back. He found the center of the maze, and successfully slew the Minotaur! But they had to leave Crete early the next morning, so they forgot to put up the white sails, and King Aegeus threw himself into the sea in his grief. Theseus was crowned King of Athens upon his return. Sad, isn't it? Most Greek myths are, with the story of Midas's golden touch being one of the few that isn't.