There are many lost civilizations still being excavated around the world. Along with these lost civilizations comes an ancient story describing each civilization. These stories describe a civilization that thrilled many years ago; however the challenge is to see whether these stories describe a mythical civilization or a real civilization. 3 civilizations described in ancient myths are the Minoan, Mycenaean, and Trojan civilizations. The myth of the Minotaur and Theseus describes a great civilization known as the Minoan civilization. Then there is the myth of the Trojan War described in Homer's Iliad. The Trojan War was a war fought between the Mycenaeans and the Trojans. Therefore, archaeologists have dedicated their life's work to proving that these myths describe a real civilization that existed. The story of the Minotaur and Theseus describes a great civilization known as the Minoan civilization. A Minotaur is a monster that has the body of a human but the head of a bull. This beast was created when King Minos prayed to the Gods for a bull from the seas. King Minos said that he would sacrifice this bull in honor of the gods. Poseidon answered his prayers. He sent a beautiful white bull to King Minos; he was supposed to sacrifice this bull to show his faith to the gods. However, the bull was so beautiful that he decided to keep it and sacrifice a normal animal in its place. Poseidon was furious at his actions, so he decided to punish him. Poseidon decided to make King Minos' wife, Pasiphae, fall in love with the white bull. A wooden cow was built for her, so she can have a relationship with the bull. As a result, she gave birth to the Minotaur. King Minos was ashamed of his wife and this creature...... in the middle of the newspapers. Archaeologists were able to discover the truth behind these civilizations and the myths had meaning for these individual civilizations. Works Cited1. Bradley, Richard. “The Island of the Minotaur”. Video clips online. Youtube. Youtube, 7 July 2012. Web. 9 May 2014.2. Kingsley, Charles. Greek heroes or fairy tales. New York: R.H. Russell, 1901. Print.3. Homer. The Iliad. Trans. Murray, AT Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1924. Web.4. Pausanias. Description of Greece. Trans. WHS Jonas. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1918. 15-16. Web.5. Schliemann, Heinrich. “Heinrich Schliemann and the discovery of Troy”. Video clips online. YouTube. YouTube. May 30, 2010. Web. May 10, 2014.6. “The truth of Troy”. Video clips online. YouTube. YouTube. January 26, 2013. Web. May 10 2014.