The Minotaur

You've heard the story — it's old, they say — how the queen of Crete took a bull for a lover and in her time delivered the Minotaur. Contriving to hide his shame, to banish the hideous man-bull from the sight of men, King Minos ordered Daedalus to construct a labyrinth. The artist set the stone, captured conflict in aisles and passages of confusion and deceit, devious ways that twisted the mind and eye of all who entered this prison of no escape, wherein was placed the Minotaur. Thus did Daedalus build his monument to the betrayal of the king.

The means of destruction are approaching perfection with frightful rapidity.

— Baron Antoine Henri Jomini, 1838