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Glite Dictionary
Labyrinth of Minos

Labyrinth of Minos

9.9
A very large maze in Greek myth on Crete built to hold the Minotaur
  • noun
  • /ˈlæbərɪnθ əv ˈmaɪnəs/
  • Literature
translation icon : laberinto de Minos
  • The legend says that Theseus navigated the Labyrinth of Minos to slay the Minotaur.

Examples

  • The Labyrinth of Minos was designed to trap the Minotaur.

  • Many adventurers sought to escape the Labyrinth of Minos, but few succeeded.

  • Archaeologists have long debated the real-world inspiration for the Labyrinth of Minos.

  • Many stories revolve around the Labyrinth of Minos and its mysteries.

  • According to the myth, Theseus bravely entered the Labyrinth of Minos to confront the powerful Minotaur.

  • In ancient times, the Labyrinth of Minos was thought to be an inescapable maze filled with danger.

  • The Labyrinth of Minos represents the complex nature of challenges we face in life.

Synonyms

maze
vsLabyrinth of Minos
54 2.5

A group of connected paths made as a puzzle to find the exit

is instead a vast Cretan trap built to hold a dangerous creature
labyrinth
vsLabyrinth of Minos
31 7.4

A complicated set of connected paths that is hard to find your way through

is a vast Cretan structure built purposely to imprison a creature

Surface Forms

Labyrinth of Minos singular
Labyrinths of Minos plural

Morphology

labyrinth + of + Minos

The phrase is a literal possessive combination: 'labyrinth' (a maze) + 'of' + the proper name 'Minos', so its meaning as the maze belonging to Minos is directly derivable from the constituents. This follows a standard noun + of + name construction and is not idiomatic or metaphorical, so a B1 learner who knows the words (including who Minos is) will understand it.

Etymology

Labyrinth of Minos comes from a Greek story about King Minos, who had the builder Daedalus make a huge, twisting labyrinth on the island of Crete to hold the half-man, half-bull monster the Minotaur, and the hero Theseus used a ball of thread to find his way out. So, the name now suggests 'a very confusing maze' or 'a situation that is hard to find your way through'.