* The following is a reimagined telling of a Greek Myth. I have taken liberties with the story, it in no way is an interpretation of the famous myth.
It came to be in the waning days of King Asterion; ruler of Crete, a benevolent and wise king; he must select an heir to the throne. While Lord Minos was his eldest, he also knew that Lord Sarpedon was also a very capable leader. In order to give both of his proud sons an equal opportunity to the throne, he devised a series of three trials for the young men. King Asterion knew that each of his sons would be better placed on the throne and would more likely accept the judgment if they believed the better man won.
The first trial was of strength and endurance. The two young men had to race from the capital of Knossos to the western tip of Crete, down the southern coast, to the eastern tip and back again to Knossos. King Asterion stood with the two young men and gave the same counsel. "Pick your path wisely, for the shorter path may be more treacherous, while the longer path may lull you to a false confidence." Both of the young men thought and considered his sage advice, then nodded their understanding. They stepped to the markers on western road. Ahead of them, Queen Europa, wife of Asterion, dropped an azure scarf. The strapping youths bolted down the road. The King and Queen retired to the palace to await their return.
Both ran side by side for a league, they came to a fork in the road. One towards the hills, the other towards the coast. Minos chose the hills, while Sharpedon chose the coast. Minos found the hills a harder road, as it was an incline and rockier by far, making his progress difficult. Sharpedon found the coastal road paved and smooth, but soon came to village after village. Young women came out to see the King's sons race. The young women were also keen to catch the eyes of a prince, and be swept away from village life. So it was that both princes had a difficult road. When they neared the western coast, a magistrate lit a pyre. He added leaves of the carmine vine, and the smoke rose in a red hue. Sarpedon was in the lead.
The brothers continued along their paths, and when they reached the southern side of the island, a magistrate lit a torch infused with borax powder; the smoke rose with a yellow hue; the young princes were tied at the halfway mark. On they ran, fleet of foot, native to the island of Crete. Their feet only now feeling the duress of their first trial. So it was when they reached the eastern tip of the island, again a magistrate spied the lads, and lit a pyre anew. He threw copper dust on to the flames and the smoke rose in the winds carrying a blue hue. Minos was ahead of his brother.
King Asterion and Queen Europa waited at the palace, servants would bring them news of the race. They nodded at the news, Queen Europa vacillated with each turn of the results. King Asterion simply nodded to the servant and reserved judgment. As the boys reached the eastern marker, and news was brought to them Europa predicted Minos would win, the prodigal son. Asterion merely stroked his beard and made no indication of what he felt.
An hour after the third smoke had flown, the King and Queen walked to the steps of the palace to await their sons. They could hear the scrape of sandals on the sand covered road. They looked at the last length of road. The two princes were side by side for a stretch before Sarpedon took the lead, until Minos rallied and overtook his brother.
"I knew it!" Europe clapped. Asterion stroked his beard without comment.
When the two young men came closer Sarpedon overtook Minos for the last stretch. He arrived by a mere stride ahead of his older brother. Both were panting and breathing hard from the ordeal. Servants came with fresh water and wet towels to assist them. They gladly reached for the water, drinking in the cool refreshing liquid. Young women wiped their bodies down with cool towels as they eventually caught their breath.
"Victory is yours brother!" cheered Minos. "You chose the better path!"
"Nay, Minos!" Sarpedon gasped. "For we were side by side many times. The sight of mother gave me strength, I knew not I had. But for her standing here, surely you would have won!"
The boys embraced, proud of each other's accomplishment. Minstrels would write ballads of the boys foot race, and would be sung in many a dining hall for years to come.
King Asterion placed a laurel on Sarpedon's head, proclaiming him the victor. "Sleep well my sons! For tomorrow you will face the trial of knowledge."
The rising of the sun brought the two boys together in their father's great hall. They were well rested and bathed for the next challenge. In the hall were five philosophers that would test and judge the young learned men. The first part of the test was to choose a token. On a table were a variety of objects for the lads to choose from.
"I chose this river stone, for it has been shaped by the river's water, yet it remains solid and strong," said Minos.
"I choose this olive branch, for it nourishes our people and supports our village homes," said Sarpedon.
The philosophers gathered and debated their choices. When they agreed, they declared Minos the winner of the first round. Next, each of them was questioned by a philosopher, starting with grammar. Then followed by logic, which led to arithmetic, and astronomy. Music was judged by their ability to play a lyre or sing a ballad. They finished with rhetoric. After each round, a winner of the round was declared. Minos had won three rounds, just as Sarpedon had won three.
When it came to rhetoric, Minos was better spoken and more convincing in his arguments. Minos won the round, and therefore the challenge.
"Well met brother," said Sarpedon, "you are clearly wiser and more experienced than I!"
"Nay Sarpedon," Minos countered, "you are equally well trained and educated. Were it not for fathers guidance, these past years, I surely would have been bested by you in rhetoric."
The brothers embraced, glad for the challenge and the camaraderie of these challenges.
"Rest well my sons, for tomorrow you face the final trial; the trial of the gods!"
The son rose the next day and King Asterion with his wife Europa met the two young men at the steps of the palace. Europa now saw the great wisdom of her husband, for the trials had united her boys in wishing the best for the other. When the trials were decided, neither would have recriminations against the other. Moreover, the god would tip the scales in the final trial.
"My good sons, it makes my heart proud to see such worthy men to assume the throne. Whoever the gods bless the greater today, will become the next King of Crete. I will advise you for a year, then retire from the palace to let you lead this great nation."
"You must beseech a god of your choice, and should that god bestow a blessing, whichever is the greater blessing will be my heir!" spoke Asterion.
Both princes bowed to their mother and father, then left the palace. Minos went to the fields and gathered 100 bulls. He took them to the sea and sacrificed them to Poseidon. Saying,
"Great and honorable Poseidon, god of the seas and oceans! I sacrifice these 100 bulls in your honor so that you might bless me with a gift!"
Sarpedon climbed to the rocky tops of the highest promontory on the island. He caught 100 eagles and sacrificed them to Zeus. Saying,
"Great and honorable Zeus, god of the skies and father of the gods! I sacrifice these 100 eagles in your honor so that you might bless me with a gift!"
As the blood drained into the ocean, the waters frothed and boiled before Minos. Out of the water came a magnificent ivory bull, unlike the which had been seen before or after. The ocean winds carried a voice and it whispered...
"Take this bull, and sacrifice it to me if you should become King Minos, and your kingdom will be blessed with peace."