Good Sunday everyone! For this week’s post, I have chosen the opening six (or so) sentences from a work in progress – a rewrite of the ancient Greek myth of the Minotaur. In the ancient myth, the Minotaur’s name is given as Asterion, the Starry One. The Bull from the sea was seen as a personification of Poseidon (thought to have been Pasiphae’s – Minotaur’s mother’s – lover) – and Poseidon was also thought to have been Theseus’ father. Therefore, Theseus killing Minotaur was a fratricide – or did Theseus kill the Minotaur? And was the Minotaur really a monster, or a man wearing a bull mask? These are the themes I explore in this novella, which I hope to finish soon.
Asterion paced the length of the room, back and forth, fists clenched at his sides. The bull mask grinned at him from its perch on the altar, the golden horns sparkling in the candlelight, the gem eyes glittering.
“You must do it,” said a gravelly male voice.
“Or what? The world ends? Chaos will fall on us?”
“And if I said yes?”
Thank you all for coming to read my snippets every time. For more great excerpt don’t forget to visit the Six Sentence Sunday site. 🙂
Intriguing as always. You always set the scene so nicely.
I like that! Great atmosphere. 🙂
ooh nice! Does he?
I love when you play with Greek myths! Great six!
Oh wow! I want more. Now.
Great opening! I want more!
Great teaser. Love that we don’t know if the mask is purely decorative. Great last line too.
Oh, I love it. The minotaur questions whether his job is necessary. Very nice.
Hi Chystalla. What a fabulous myth to explore. I’ve been fascinated with the legends surrounding the Minotaur for decades. Love these insights into Asterion. Great Six!
I love ancient Greek stuff. Need to head over to Amazon now. 🙂
I love that sinister bull mask, staring down on them both. Really good description.
Great description and SO intriguing!
ooooh, great hook!
oooh, great hook! I posted a comment before, but i dont think it worked? Sorry if i double up, but i wanted to be sure..
Very intense and great description. I like it.
I am SUCH a sucker for re-telling of Greek myths (as you may have gathered from mysix!) This is so nicely done. I love your writing voice and style.
Very intriguing subject – and well told in six.
I love the retelling of myths also, but only when they’re written as unique and fresh as your voice is. I’m hooked. Love the image of him pacing in front of the mask.
I like the “mask” idea. Nice six!
Love the tension you created at the end. Great six
Love the idea of the bull mask for a minotaur.
So many questions. Looking forward to reading more.
Ruh Roh!!!!
Interesting idea and opening.
I love this series of Greek myths revisited! 🙂
Great six! I love the way you place with myths.
Could we say he’s “busted!”. Great six.
Happy Easter!
lovely six, as usual