Island of the Minotaur: Greek Myths of Ancient Crete — Sheldon Oberman

This chapter book of Greek myths presents the epic history of the Minoan civilization. The novel connects famous myths; Zeus and Rhea, Theseus, Ariadne and the Minotaur, Icarus and Daedalus, Jason and Medea with little known tales of the Bronze Giant, Phaedra and the Ash tree spirits. Island of the Minotaur weaves together the famous and the forgotten myths of the mysterious Minoans of Crete. Their island empire was obliterated by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions but their clever puzzles and riddling tales were rescued by the Greeks and became an essential part of Greek mythology. Now these tales are retold as one continuous story in this exciting book. Here is the Minotaur roaring in its Labyrinth, winged Icarus flying towards the sun and Theseus struggling with the deadly witch Medea as he tries to save his father and all Athens from her poisonous spell. Here are the Ash Tree Spirits, Talus the Bronze Giant and Phaedra, the last great Queen of Crete and doomed Atlantis. Here, too, is Sir Arthur Evans who, thousands of years later, discovers and solves the buried secrets of the Minoans so they can finally be told today.