The Cretan Bull, in Greek Mythology, was a beast that lived on the island of Crete and was captured by Hercules in one of his famous 12 works. Other legends associate it with the Minotaur and the kidnapping of Europe. Legend has it that the bull from Crete emerged from the Aegean Sea, sent by the sea god, Poseidon, at the request of Minus, son of King Asterius. Minos, whose succession to the throne was being contested, asked Poseidon to intercede on his behalf, giving rise to a sign of his legitimacy from the waters.
Poseidon imposed on Minus the condition that the bull should later be sacrificed in his name. Minus, however, admired by the beauty of the white bull, mixed it with others in his herd, and sacrificed a lesser animal. This disobedience provoked the ire of Poseidon, who punished Minus, making the animal incredibly furious. With that, his wife maintained relations with the bull, then Minotaur was born. The bull began to terrorize the island of Crete, attacking the population, who were forced to lock up in their homes.