King Minos and The Labyrinth
A Silver Drachm minted in Knossos, Crete c. 200 BC
This coin shows King Minos (or possibly Zeus) and a square Labyrinth with ΚΝΩ-Σ-Ι-ΩΝ written around it. This coin is an imitation of the Athenian Tetradrachm style.
According to the Greek myth, Minos was the first king of Crete. Although he gave the island its first constitution, built the palace at Knossos, and built a large navy, he was a cruel tyrant and imperialist. One of his provinces was the city of Athens, from which he demanded a payment every nine years of seven youths and seven virgins. Minos would feed them to the Minotaur, a half-man, half-bull who was held in the Labyrinth, a large walled maze. To stop this brutal tribute, the Athenian hero, Theseus, had himself sent as part of the required tribute. With the assistance of Ariadne, the daughter of Minos, Theseus was able to navigate the Labyrinth successfully and kill the Minotaur.