Many stories have been recorded...
of the ancient times.
Behind even the greatest myths...
there is a history now long forgotten.
ln the age of gods and spirits...
the known world was ruled by a dark empire...
from their island palace of Minos.
They worshipped the bull...
the most powerful of all gods.
The tablets recount that as the empire grew...
their hedonism and greed knew no bounds.
The people longed for more than stone deities.
They demanded a living god.
ln response, sickened minds indulged...
in the forbidden arts...
and decreed the queen should offer herself to the bull...
to create the perfect being...
a unification of god and man.
For 1 3 months the creature grew inside her...
pure, precious.
Every care bestowed.
To ensure safe passage into our world...
it was cut from the queen's belly.
Suckled on the blood of its own mother...
the newborn was presented to the people.
The palace hailed their creation...
and the power of the empire strengthened.
But as the beast grew, so did its hunger.
ln revenge for the murder of a royal prince...
a grave tax was placed upon my village, Thena...
in the northern territories.
Every three years, eight youths would be taken...
to the palace by royal soldiers...
lowered into the labyrinth...
and sacrificed to the beast.
Help me! Help me!
The empire of the bull seemed invincible...
as the fifth sacrifice drew near.
Go ahead.
The leper.
My father says she never comes but with an omen.
lt means they're coming.
We saw her in the forest again---- the old woman.
Danu thinks she's a sign that the horned soldiers will come.
He also says that the moon slid across the ocean...
and fell off the earth.
l miss her, Father.
Why did Ffion have to be taken?
How many of us must die for this one prince?
There are certain things that you cannot understand yet, Theo.
Then l want to learn.
You will...in time.
While l am leader of this village...
let me worry about those things.
Theo, you must move on.
You will find love again.
Morna?
When the soldiers come...
if you're taken, Morna, then my heart will die.
No, Morna, the mistletoe stick'll keep you safe.
Say my name.
Just once.
No, don't sign it.
Say my name.
Tell us it will be different this time.
lt will not be different this time.
No, this time we fight.
lf we fight, they will destroy us.
The tax is eight youths.
We know our children are sacrificed to a wild beast.
The death of their prince is a terrible burden...
but we must endure it.
How can you know about our pain...
when your precious son cannot be taken?
Theo cannot be taken because after me...
he will lead this village.
We agreed to keep him safe until then.
-- Yes, we will. -- No, we can't fight them.
Didi, what is it?
Your father said l should come.
He asked me to be with you, Theo.
l can't, Didi.
l still love Ffion.
Didi!
Run, shepherd.
The leper.
What broods for the boy?
The mark. The tree.
l know of it.
The other half belongs to someone l love.
lt still does.
No, she was taken.
Taken, but not sacrificed.
She lives?
She lives far across the sea...
in the labyrinth beneath the great palace.
There she waits for Theo.
Why do you play tricks with me, old woman...
when you know nothing of her?
To save her, Theo must kill.
Curse their god...
and kill the beast!
The Minotaur?
She was taken.
But not sacrificed.
My heart never left you...never.
lt's time.
Take the village herd when you leave.
Their soldiers will be here soon.
l went to see the leper.
She told me Ffion still lives.
She said l had to kill the beast.
You will not listen to an old woman who fills your head with lies.
The Minotaur is a god. lt cannot be slain by any man.
Son, one day you will lead this village.
We must keep you safe until then.
l'm doing this because l want you to live...
and give the world your children.
But the one who would have my children, Father, is gone.
Go into the hills.
Do as l say!
Theo! Theo!
Go, Danu. Go and be with Morna.
The one who can't be taken.
l want no fight with you, Tyro.
You have no fight with anyone, shepherd.
Come on!
lf Ffion were mine she'd still be here, shepherd.
Tyro!
The ships! The ships are coming!
We ask forgiveness for our sin.
Take the first eight youths you find.
And l want no more from your dark spirit.
No, don't take them!
Don't take them!
No!
Morna! Morna!
Morna!
Curse their god and kill the beast.
Don't touch my mother!
The stick! The stick!
No, Mother!
Mother!
Theo...
l'm taking your place. Go! Run!
Farewell.
ls that a way to greet a friend?
Who is it?
lt's Theo.
What's he doing here?
Stay close to Morna, Danu.
The bull.
l'm going to kill the bull.
The Minotaur?
Their god?
And you'll kill it with him?
Have you told him yet?
Tyro is afraid of the bull.
l fear no beast.
My mother once told me that it is white.
White from the bile of all the children sacrificed in the labyrinth.
She said when the Minotaur was born...
the world cried tears that filled the oceans.
Didi, your mother is a goose who sings to her own shadow...
and her daughter is a fool.
She's mad!
Hit her for me.
The bull is divine. Death is our path into the afterlife.
We should be honored we are sacrificed. 170 00:19:33,939 --