A. Sutherland – AncientPages.com – The contacts between King Aegeus (Aigeus) of Athens and King Minos of Crete in Greek mythology were marked by hostility, war, and a tragic agreement that forced Athens under Crete’s rule. One day, Minos ‘ son, Androgeos, traveled to Athens to participate in the Panathenaic Games. He was so skilled that he defeated all his Athenian opponents.
At that time, Minos was just performing a sacrificial rite in honor of the Charites at Paros, an island in the Aegean Sea, in the Cyclades archipelago, when news of his son’s death reached him. He dramatically tore the wreath from his head and commanded all the flutes to be silent, but he completed the rite. From then on, this ceremony on Paros was performed without wreaths or flutes, or any music at all.
Minos soon gathered his powerful fleet and marched against Athens. His war of revenge cost much.
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