The Legendary Cretan Labyrinth Cave: Inspiration for the Story of King Minos and the Labyrinth of the Minotaur?

In Greek mythology, the Labyrinth was a structure built by the famed craftsman Daedalus in order to hold a creature known as the Minotaur. The Minotaur was said to be a creature that was half-man and half-bull. This creature was believed to be the son of Queen Pasiphae of Crete and a bull.

As the beast became more and more ferocious, it developed a taste for human flesh. Thus, the king of Crete, Minos, wanted to have it contained, and upon receiving advice from the Oracle at Delphi, had the Labyrinth built near his palace in Knossos. Although the story of the Minotaur is taken by many today as just a myth, there is a real Labyrinth Cave on the island of Crete. Perhaps this cave was the inspiration for the story of Minos’ Labyrinth and the fearsome creature that resided within it?