"Thesus and the Minotaur. (From a vase-painting in the Vatican Museum.) — The Delphian Society, 1913

Thesus and the Minotaur

"Thesus and the Minotaur. (From a vase-painting in the Vatican Museum.) — The Delphian Society,…

"Signa Militaria, military ensigns or standards. The most ancient standard employed by the Romans is said to have been a handful of straw fixed to the top of a spear or pole. Hence the company of soldiers belonging to it was called Manipulus. The bundle of hay or fern was soon succeeded by the figures of animals, viz. the eagle, the wolf, the minotaur, the horse, and the boar. These appear to have corresponded to the five divisions of the Roman army." — Smith, 1873

Signa Militaria

"Signa Militaria, military ensigns or standards. The most ancient standard employed by the Romans is…

"The Athenians were at that time in deep affiction on account of the tribute which they were forced to pay to Minos, king of Crete. This tribute consisted of seven youths and seven maidens, who were sent every year to be devoured by the Minotaur." —Bulfinch, 1897

Theseus and the minotaur

"The Athenians were at that time in deep affiction on account of the tribute which they were forced…

"The Athenians were at that time in deep affiction on account of the tribute which they were forced to pay to Minos, king of Crete. This tribute consisted of seven youths and seven maidens, who were sent every year to be devoured by the Minotaur." —Bulfinch, 1897

Theseus and the minotaur

"The Athenians were at that time in deep affiction on account of the tribute which they were forced…

"Eagle, as a military standard, was adopted by the Romans, and even by nations preceding them in history. The Persians, in the time of Cyrus the Younger, bore an eagle on a spear as a standard. The Romans for some time used the eagle, the wolf, the boar, the horse, and the minotaur for standards, but afterwards abandoned the last four, and confined themselves to the first." — Chambers' Encyclopedia, 1875

Roman Eagle

"Eagle, as a military standard, was adopted by the Romans, and even by nations preceding them in history.…

A medal of Crete, representing a Minotaur and the labyrinth in which he was confined.

Medal of Crete

A medal of Crete, representing a Minotaur and the labyrinth in which he was confined.