logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2024
35m 55s

Myth of the Minotaur: Half Man Half Bull

History Hit
About this episode

The myth of the Minotaur has endured thousands of years for good reason... it's hard to forget! Today, Maddy Pelling tells Anthony Delaney the story of King Minos of Crete, the monster in his maze, and the son of Athens that comes to kill it, thanks largely to the cunning of Princess Ariadne.


Edited by Tomos Delargy. Produced by Charlotte Long.


Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign here for up to 50% for 3 months using code AFTERDARK

You can take part in our listener survey here.

Up next
Yesterday
Who Was The Ultimate Tudor Traitor?
The Tudor court was dangerous and high stakes at the best of times, where survival could often mean betraying others.Enter: Jane Boleyn, thrust into the Tudor limelight when her sister-in-law, Anne Boleyn, marries Henry VIII.Did she really contribute to the axe falling on Anne Bo ... Show More
44m 53s
Oct 6
The Railway Murder That Shook Victorian Britain
It's 1864 and the height of industrialisation. The thrill of railway travel is shattered with the first murder that takes place on it.Join Anthony and Maddy as they pick apart the murder of wealthy banker John Briggs, that takes them from a blood-stained first class carriage in L ... Show More
43m 42s
Oct 2
The Dark Reality of Life at Sea
Dan Snow joins After Dark to reveal the brutal reality of life of sailors during the golden age of sail. From the cat o' nine tails, to the pressgang, from scurvy to mutineers. How did people survive the most extreme conditions imaginable?Edited by Tomos Delargy. Produced by Fred ... Show More
39m 25s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2024
The Minotaur
Half man and half bull, the Minotaur is one of the most famous, and scariest, monsters of Greek mythology. The story goes that it was trapped in a great labyrinth beneath Knossos on the island of Crete and feasted on human flesh until it was slain by the hero Theseus with the hel ... Show More
50m 58s
Oct 1
605. Greek Myths: Jason & The Quest for the Golden Fleece (Part 4)
What terrifying trials did Jason and the Argonauts have to overcome to win the famous Golden Fleece from a fire-breathing dragon, in one of the greatest greek myths of all time? When and where does this thrilling story come from? How does it tie together the tales of Odysseus, Or ... Show More
1h 3m
Sep 28
604. Greek Myths: Sex, Drugs & Tragedy (Part 3)
Who was Dionysus, the son of Zeus, and Greek god of ecstasy, revelry and madness? Why was he so central to the ancient Greeks? What is the story of the Bacchae, the play in which a young man is ripped apart by the handmaidens of the goddess Artemis? What did it mean to be a Bacch ... Show More
1h 4m
Sep 22
ONRYO - The Ancient Curse That Still Haunts Modern Japan
Journey into Japan's terrifying world of Onryō – vengeful spirits so powerful they toppled emperors and reshaped civilizations, born from injustices so profound that death itself couldn't contain their rage. Discover more TERRIFYING podcasts at http://eeriecast.com/ Follow Carman ... Show More
45m 42s
Oct 6
THE JUNIPER TREE - A German Tale of Murder, Cannibalism, and Resurrection
When a stepmother's jealousy transforms domestic life into unspeakable horror, a murdered child's bones sing out for justice from beneath an ancient tree—proving that some truths refuse to stay buried. Discover more TERRIFYING podcasts at http://eeriecast.com/ Follow Carman Carri ... Show More
44m 16s
Sep 30
She Crashes into the Scene, Wine Skin Filled with Human Blood (Herodotus The Histories Bk 1, Part 4)
We've finally made it to the end of the first book of Herodotus' Histories. It's been a wild ride folks, with all those twists and turns, but it ends with a bang. God it ends to well, I'm so happy. Thank you all for having me! And here's the the next time I see you all <3Submit y ... Show More
36m 55s
Sep 25
Inanna: Mesopotamian Sex Goddess
Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. Kate Lister to take us on a journey through the fascinating history of Innana, an ancient goddess of love, war, fertility, and political power. They delve into her evolution from a humble agricultural deity to one of the most powerful and complex f ... Show More
41m 43s
Jan 2025
145 | ATTACKED on the FARM! (6 True Scary Farm Stories)
Become an Eeriecast PLUS Member! https://eeriecast.com/plus GET MY WIFE'S ADORABLE STICKERS!!! https://ko-fi.com/ruffledragons/shop ORDER PHANTOM PHENOMENA: https://a.co/d/3hQAV7e ORDER APPALCHIAN FOLKLORE UNVEILED: https://a.co/d/iteR5xZ Get CRYPTID: The Creepy Card Battling Gam ... Show More
1h 6m
Sep 23
The Definitely Real, Totally Accurate Story of Cyrus (Herodotus The Histories Bk 1, Part 3)
And we are back again with another week of Herodotus and his Histories. This time, we go backwards to explore how the Persian Empire got power within Asia. Isn't that fun? There certainly will not be any tangents here! No, not at all. Why would you think that?Submit your question ... Show More
34m 45s
Sep 29
MATINTA PEREIRA – The Shape-Shifting Witch of the Amazon
When an experienced midwife makes a desperate bargain with the shape-shifting witch Matinta Pereira during her daughter's difficult childbirth, she discovers that some promises extract prices far worse than the suffering they were meant to end. Discover more TERRIFYING podcasts a ... Show More
41m 20s