I'd like to welcome Phillip W. Simpson, author of Minotaur to the blog with a character spotlight. Greek myth retelling plus a nod to Beauty and the Beast-- who could ask for more?
Character Spotlight: Asterion aka Minotaur
by Phillip W. Simpson
by Phillip W. Simpson
Minotaur is
a retelling or reinterpretation of the famous Greek myth of Theseus and the
Minotaur. According to the legend, the Minotaur was a savage half-bull,
half-man beast imprisoned in the labyrinth by his father, Minos, the King of
Crete.
In the myth,
King Minos failed to sacrifice a beautiful white bull to the sea god, Poseidon.
To punish him, Poseidon seduced his wife, Queen Pasiphae. Their union brought
about Asterion (the starry one) who was later known as Minotaur – the terrible
beast of the labyrinth.
According
to the myth, Asterion was monstrous with the head of a bull and the body of a
man.
In my
interpretation, Asterion is nothing like as monstrous. He is born with the
horns of a bull. Asterion’s cruel
stepfather hates Asterion because of his deformity and for the harsh reminder
of his wife’s betrayal.
Asterion’s
childhood is filled with bleak encounters with his stepfather and his horrible
younger brother and sister. As he grows older, his great size and horns mark
his as a freak. He is also incredible strong. He is an outsider and is teased
and feared by others. Because he spends much of his childhood alone, he
befriends a dog who in some ways, is his only friend.
Asterion is
plain looking rather than handsome but even so, he attracts the interest of
Phaedra, Minos’ beautiful daughter, who sees beyond his looks, recognising the
kind and gentle man that he is. In this respect, Minotaur is also a story of
the beauty and the beast.
Minotaur
Phillip W. Simpson
Greek Myth Retelling
Month9Books
September 29, 2015
“Where shall I start?” asked Minotaur.
Ovid made an expansive gesture with both hands. “Where else
but the beginning of course.”
Minotaur nodded his huge head. “Yes,” he said. “Yes,” his
eyes already glazing over with the weight of thousand year old memories. And
then he began.
So begins the story of Asterion, later known as Minotaur,
the supposed half bull creature of Greek legend. Recorded by the famous Roman
poet, Ovid, Asterion tells of his boyhood in Crete under the cruel hand of his
stepfather Minos, his adventures with his friend, Theseus, and his growing love
for the beautiful Phaedra.And of course what really happened in the labyrinth.
This is the true story of the Minotaur.
About the Author
Phillip W. Simpson is the author of many novels, chapter
books and other stories for children. His publishers include Macmillan,
Penguin, Pearson, Cengage, Raintree and Oxford University Press.
He received both his undergraduate degree in Ancient History
and Archaeology and his Masters (Hons) degree in Archaeology from the University
of Auckland.
Before embarking on his writing career, he joined the army
as an officer cadet, owned a comic shop and worked in recruitment in both the
UK and Australia.
His first young adult novel, Rapture (Rapture Trilogy #1),
was shortlisted for the Sir Julius Vogel Awards for best Youth novel in 2012.
He is represented by Vicki Marsdon at Wordlink literary
agency.
When not writing, he works as a school teacher.
Phillip lives and writes in Auckland, New Zealand with his
wife Rose, their son, Jack and their two border terriers, Whiskey and Raffles.
He loves fishing, reading, movies, football (soccer) and single malt Whiskeys.
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