Mosaic in the archaeological park of Paphos

(GERMANY OUT) Mosaic "Theseus and the Minotaur", Archaeological park of Paphos in the Greek part of the island of Cyprus. This part of the floor forms a circle in the centre of which there is a medallion (2,20 m in diameter) containing a representation of the mythical duel between Theseus and the Minotaur in the Labyrinth on Crete. Theseus, an Athenian hero, was the son of the god of the sea, Poseidon, or of king Aegeus of Athens and the Troezen princess Aethra. As a youth, already famous for his deeds, Theseus decided to accompany to Crete the Athenian hostages who were sent to Knossos every seven years as prey for the Minotaur, the cruel half man, half bull living in the depths of the Labyrinth. This painful tribute had been forced upon the Athenians by the Cretan king Minos. The youth decided to fight the monster.Upon arriving in Crete he was helped by Ariadne, daughter of king Minos, who fell in love with the handsome prince. She told Theseus how to enter the Labyrinth and gave him a ball of thread so that he could mark the difficult way back through the corridors of the maze. Theseus killed the Minotaur, thereby freeing the hostages, and sailed away from Crete together with Ariadne. The scene on the mosaic shows a decisive moment in the fight. (Photo by Gierth/ullstein bild via Getty Images)