The Great Bull that had been sent by Poseidon, was captured by Herakles as the seventh of his Twelve Labors and taken to Eurystheus. After its release the Bull wandered around the Pelopponesian peninsula and eventually came to Marathon near Athens where it wreaked havoc with the dwellers there.

At this time, King Aigeus of Athens was holding athletic games during the Panathenean Festival, and Androgeos, one of Minos's legitimate sons, came to compete and won all the events. King Aigeus then sent Androgeos to fight the bull at Marathon, but the bull killed him.

The Great Bull was later killed by Theseus, who then determined to offer himself as one of the seven youths to be offered in the annual tribute to Minos, in order to put an end to this sacrifice of Athenian youths and maidens.