Like Androgeos, many Cretan soldiers were strong. As Crete’s armies entered the battlefield, they greatly outweighed Athens in strength, and to make matters worse, the gods were already punishing Aegeus and his people for the dishonorable assassination. Athens saw many years of the deadly plague. The gods ravished the surrounding lands with drought.
Thinking of no other option, Aegeus pleaded with King Minos—Athens's soldiers were dying! His people were sick! The land’s crops were no longer!
After pondering a little while and killing more Athenian soldiers, King Minos made King Aegeus an infamous offer:
“Give me several youths once every nine years, and I shall take them as a sacrifice. They will be hunted down and devoured by my Minotaur!”
Thinking of no other option, Aegeus pleaded with King Minos—Athens's soldiers were dying! His people were sick! The land’s crops were no longer!