Theseus Slaying the Minotaur

Catalog Code: 
1- 1704
Description: 

Helen Helmore & Vera Tassell marketed and rented puzzles from their Maids of Kent Craft Shop in Canterbury, England in the 1920's to early 1930's. The assembler (not us) insists there is double cutting-deception (see discussion for "Polo") and there is certainly lots of misleading color line cutting, resulting in a difficult puzzle to assemble. Plywood, interlocking, artist is M. Malony. A big restoration with 11 replacement pieces.
The story from Greek mythology is: As condition to end the conflict between Athens and Crete, Athens had to pay a yearly tribute of 14 youths to be fed to the Minotaur which Minos, King of Crete, housed in a labyrinth on Crete. Athenian hero Theseus pledged to his father, Argeus, King of Athens, that he would kill the Minotaur and free his people from the wrath of Minos. Theseus went to Crete where Ariadne, daughter of King Minos, fell in love with him and gave Theseus a ball of silk thread to unwind through the endless maze of wandering paths in the labyrinth. Theseus was able to slay the Minotaur (he has just mortally wounded the beast in the puzzle scene), follow the thread out (note ball of thread he is holding in his hand) and set sail for Athens with Ariadne, thus freeing Athens from the yearly tribute. The full story is much more complicated and can be found through an internet search under "Theseus; minotaur"

General Information
Artist: 
Series: 
Date: 
1930
Width: 
16"
Height: 
11"
Material: 
plywood
Container: 
replaced
Pieces Information
Pieces: 
345
Pieces Replaced: 
11
Colorline: 
yes
Interlock: 
yes
Styles: 
Sale Status: 
Not for Sale