Cretan Bull

The Cretan bull was a handsome bull sent forth from the sea by Poseidon. The Cretan Queen Pasiphae lusted after the animal and coupled with it, hidden inside a wooden cow crafted by the artificer Daidalos. She gave birth to the monstrous Minotauros, a creature with the head of a bull.

Herakles was commanded to fetch the bull of Krete as one of his Twelve Labours. Upon completion of this task Herakles he set the creature free and it eventually came to the Athenian town of Marathon where it laid waste to the countryside. There it was destroyed by the hero Theseus. The gods placed the bull among the stars as the Constellation Taurus, along with the Hydra, Nemean Lion and various other creatures from Herakles' labours.