Minos

From Seiyapedia

This is about the character of the Classic "Saint Seiya" series. For Griffon Vermeer in "Next Dimension", click here. For Griffon Minos in "Lost Canvas" click here. For info on the Griffon Surplice, click here.

You don't want to know where the puppet is.

Occupation: Spectre of Hades
Star: Celestial Noble Star
Armour: Gryphon Surplice
Age: 23
Birthplace: Norway
Height: 184 cm
Weight: 72kg
Blood type: A
Related characters: Hades (leader), Pandora (commander), Rhadamanthys, Aiacos (fellow Judges)
Seiyuu: Kōichi Tōchika (Hades: Inferno-, Hades: Elysion-), Takahiro Sakurai (The Lost Canvas)

Gryphon Minos (グリフォンのミーノス) is a character from the classic anime/manga series, Saint Seiya, by famous manga-ka Masami Kurumada. He is a prominent character in the Hades arc of the series, sharing a similar role with fellow spectres Wyvern Rhadamanthys and Garuda Aiacos. Together, the trio is collectively known as the 3 Judges of Hell. Minos' power lies in the Celestial Noble Star (天貴星).

The Royal Court

The name "Minos" (ミーノス) is taken directly from the same figure of Greek mythologies, the son of Zeus and Europa. In the ancient stories, Minos was a King and would become a second Judge of the Dead with his brother, Rhadamanthys. In Saint Seiya, Minos and Rhadamanthys were two of the three Judges of the Underworld, with Aiacos in the third spot.

Judge, Jury, Executioner

Yes, another college frat movie.

Easily one of the most powerful warriors in all of the Underworld, Gryphon Minos is a high ranking official of Hades' army. Minos is one of the infamous 3 Judges of Hell, and has a fair amount of command over the soldiers that fight for the Greek deity of the Dead, Hades. He was also the only high ranking spectre to have mentioned having actual judicial duties, with a designated court house.

Amongst all of the spectres in the Hades chapter, Minos was shown to be one of the most competent and powerful. He had the upper-hand in his confrontation with powerful gold saint Gemini Kanon, and later survived a 7th sense "Aurora Execution" attack from bronze saint Cygnus Hyoga.

Special Techniques

Minos is easily one of the most powerful spectres in the Underworld, with only Wyvern Rhadamanthys and Garuda Aiacos rivaling him in terms of power.

"Cosmic Marionation"

The Gryphon's one and only weapon is his "Cosmic Marionation" technique. As the name would suggest, the move allows Minos to wrap his opponent with strings of cosmos energy, entrapping and turning them into living, human marionettes. In the anime, "Cosmic Marionation" was also able to control an enemy's technique, as shown when Minos manipulated the technique's cosmos energy to reverse Pegasus Seiya's "Pegasus Ryu Sei Ken", deflect Andromeda Shun's "Nebular Chains", and counter both Cygnus Hyoga's "Diamond Dust" and Dragon Shiryu's "Rozan Ryu Hi Sho".

Curtains Up

Along with Garuda Aiacos and Wyvern Rhadamanthys, Gryphon Minos was summoned by Pandora to attend a musical session performed by Silver Saint Lyra Orphée. The 3 Judges were present together for the first time, which caused Orphée to worry as he and bronze saints Pegasus Seiya and Andromeda Shun had created a plan to assassinate Hades. Fortunately for the silver saint, his hypnotic melody was able to temporarily take Minos and Aiacos out of the equation, but Rhadamanthys would throw a wench into the plot.

Sometime later, Minos and Aiacos made their second appearances when investigating a fight between fellow Judge Wyvern Rhadamanthys and gold saint Gemini Kanon. Minos was amused that Rhadamanthys was having trouble defeating the Kanon, and, to the Wyvern's dismay, took matters upon himself to finish the fight. Minos instantly trapped Kanon with his "Cosmic Marionation" technique, and the Gemini was suddenly helpless as Minos gained control over every joint of his body. To show off the might of his technique, the Judge broke one of Kanon's fingers by forcefully snapping it backwards. Kanon screamed in pain as Minos twisted and turned Kanon's joints in every angle imaginable.

Before Minos could add additional damage, bronze saint Phoenix Ikki made his presence known and detached the strings from Kanon's body.

Curtains Down

Being one of the mighty Judges of Hell, Gryphon Minos immediately left to investigate after he had felt twelve powerful cosmos present in Hades' throne room. As he arrived, he was confronted by bronze saints Pegasus Seiya and Andromeda Shun on the courtyard, but their efforts were in vain as Minos easily tossed them aside. The Gryphon then approached the room, and was indirectly blasted by an immense amount of solar energy -- a combined effort of all twelve of Athena's gold saints in their attempt to pierce the Underworld's infamous Wailing Wall. In the anime, Cygnus Hyoga and Dragon Shiryu joined Seiya and Shun in the initial bout.

Although damaged, the Judge was not killed by the energy and quickly chased down the remaining saints. The 12 gold saints had sacrificed themselves to create the energy blast, and so only bronze saints Pegasus Seiya, Andromeda Shun, Dragon Shiryu, and Cygnus Hyoga were left to represent Athena's army. By this point, Seiya and Shun had already jumped into the cosmic river behind the Wailing Wall, and Shiryu was caught up with three other spectres. Hyoga decided to stay behind to deal with the Gryphon.

The Cygnus attempted the block off the path by utilizing his master's infamous "Freezing Coffin" -- a seal made of thick ice that not even the combined efforts of several gold saints could destroy. However, Minos demonstrated his capability by simultaneously shattering it and sending the bronze saint flying. Hyoga retaliated with his "Diamond Dust" attack, but it was easily reversed. With the Cygnus lying on the ground, Minos picked him up using the "Cosmic Marionation". All appeared well for the spectre, until Minos noticed that his cosmic strings had been frozen. Taking advantage of Minos' surprise, Hyoga snapped off the strings and blasted the Judge with the "Aurora Execution".

After defeating Minos, Hyoga began to hop into the cosmic river -- but it was not over yet. Minos held onto the bronze saint with a string and followed him into the currents to continue the battle. To both men's shock, however, Minos' surplice and body began to dissipate as the flow of the cosmic river crushed him. As Minos was obliterated into atoms, Hyoga realized that he was unharmed because his cloth had been blessed with a deity's blood.

Beyond the Classic

Lost Canvas

The first Judge to be revealed, Minos was also the first to be defeated. In a desperate stand to protect Sanctuary as well as its surrounding villages and inhabitants, Albafica, the Pisces Gold Saint gave his life to stop the invading Specter commando under the Gryphon’s command. Minos was just as ruthless and vicious as his Classic incarnation, but doubled as a cunning tactician as well.

He also deployed a new technique, the "Gigantic Feathers Flap".

Next Dimension

Vermeer may very well prove to be an adversary to be reckoned with for the Saints of the past Holy War. Beyond his skills and cruelty, the Gryphon so far has proved to be mistrustful as well. He insisted that Garuda Suikyõ, the ex-Silver Saint of Crateris execute his former friends and comrades Libra Dohko and Aries Shion as well as his pupil Tenma to prove his loyalty to Hades.

Notes & Trivia

Griffon Minos was particularly noted to have actual duties as an established Judge -- he is normally in charge of condemning new arrivals to various Hells based on their deeds while living. Due to the war with the saints, however, Minos' position was temporarily reassigned to another spectre -- Balron Réne.

Classic Specters:

Celestial: Suikyō · Aiacos · Vermeer · Minos · Rhadamanthys · Charon · Gordon · Ivan · Pharaoh · Phlegyas · Queen · Rock · René · Stand · Sylphid · Valentine