Pasiphae was the daughter of the sun god Helios and the Oceanid Perse, in Greek mythology. She was the sister of the witch Circe and she was from the island of Colchis where Circe also dwelled. She married King Minos of Crete, with whom she had a number of children, such as Ariadne, Androgeus, Glaucus, Phaedra and Xenodice. She also gave birth to Asterion, who is better known as the Minotaur, after she was cursed by Poseidon and was forced to sleep with a white bull that was sent by the sea god. Pasiphae had a deep knowledge of magical herbs and concoctions, just like her niece Medea.
See Also: Helios, Minos, Circe, Ariadne, Glaucus, Phaedra, Minotaur, Poseidon, Medea