Learn English through classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Heroes
The Heroes

Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

Chapter 17 of The Heroes is here in full — 59 sentences across 12 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Heroes
Context Illustration Reading 1/11 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
HOW THESEUS SLEW THE MINOTAUR
And at last they came to Crete, and to Cnossus, beneath the peaks of Ida, and to the palace of Minos the great king, to whom Zeus himself taught laws.
So he was the wisest of all mortal kings, and conquered all the Ægean isles; and his ships were as many as the sea-gulls, and his palace like a marble hill.
And he sat among the pillars of the hall, upon his throne of beaten gold, and around him stood the speaking statues which Daidalos had made by his skill.
For Daidalos was the most cunning of all Athenians, and he first invented the plumb-line, and the auger, and glue, and many a tool with which wood is wrought.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Heroes

Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

Chapter 17 of The Heroes is here in full — 59 sentences across 12 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/11 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
HOW THESEUS SLEW THE MINOTAUR
Line 2
And at last they came to Crete, and to Cnossus, beneath the peaks of Ida, and to the palace of Minos the great king, to whom Zeus himself taught laws.
Line 3
So he was the wisest of all mortal kings, and conquered all the Ægean isles; and his ships were as many as the sea-gulls, and his palace like a marble hill.
Line 4
And he sat among the pillars of the hall, upon his throne of beaten gold, and around him stood the speaking statues which Daidalos had made by his skill.
Line 5
For Daidalos was the most cunning of all Athenians, and he first invented the plumb-line, and the auger, and glue, and many a tool with which wood is wrought.

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

Beneath preposition US /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading “And at last they came to Crete, and to Cnossus, beneath the peaks of Ida, and to the palace of Minos the great king, to whom Zeus himself taught laws.”

Stood verb US /stʊd/

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading “And he sat among the pillars of the hall, upon his throne of beaten gold, and around him stood the speaking statues which Daidalos had made by his skill.”

All words in this reading · 79

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

a

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So he was the wisest of all mortal kings, and conquered all the Ægean isles; and his ships were as many as the sea-gulls, and his palace like a marble hill.

all

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So he was the wisest of all mortal kings, and conquered all the Ægean isles; and his ships were as many as the sea-gulls, and his palace like a marble hill.

among

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And he sat among the pillars of the hall, upon his throne of beaten gold, and around him stood the speaking statues which Daidalos had made by his skill.

And

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And at last they came to Crete, and to Cnossus, beneath the peaks of Ida, and to the palace of Minos the great king, to whom Zeus himself taught laws.

around

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And he sat among the pillars of the hall, upon his throne of beaten gold, and around him stood the speaking statues which Daidalos had made by his skill.

as

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So he was the wisest of all mortal kings, and conquered all the Ægean isles; and his ships were as many as the sea-gulls, and his palace like a marble hill.

at

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And at last they came to Crete, and to Cnossus, beneath the peaks of Ida, and to the palace of Minos the great king, to whom Zeus himself taught laws.

Athenians

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For Daidalos was the most cunning of all Athenians, and he first invented the plumb-line, and the auger, and glue, and many a tool with which wood is wrought.

auger

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For Daidalos was the most cunning of all Athenians, and he first invented the plumb-line, and the auger, and glue, and many a tool with which wood is wrought.

beaten

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And he sat among the pillars of the hall, upon his throne of beaten gold, and around him stood the speaking statues which Daidalos had made by his skill.

beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading And at last they came to Crete, and to Cnossus, beneath the peaks of Ida, and to the palace of Minos the great king, to whom Zeus himself taught laws.

by

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And he sat among the pillars of the hall, upon his throne of beaten gold, and around him stood the speaking statues which Daidalos had made by his skill.

came

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And at last they came to Crete, and to Cnossus, beneath the peaks of Ida, and to the palace of Minos the great king, to whom Zeus himself taught laws.

Cnossus

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And at last they came to Crete, and to Cnossus, beneath the peaks of Ida, and to the palace of Minos the great king, to whom Zeus himself taught laws.

conquered

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So he was the wisest of all mortal kings, and conquered all the Ægean isles; and his ships were as many as the sea-gulls, and his palace like a marble hill.

Crete

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And at last they came to Crete, and to Cnossus, beneath the peaks of Ida, and to the palace of Minos the great king, to whom Zeus himself taught laws.

cunning

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For Daidalos was the most cunning of all Athenians, and he first invented the plumb-line, and the auger, and glue, and many a tool with which wood is wrought.

Daidalos

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And he sat among the pillars of the hall, upon his throne of beaten gold, and around him stood the speaking statues which Daidalos had made by his skill.

first

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For Daidalos was the most cunning of all Athenians, and he first invented the plumb-line, and the auger, and glue, and many a tool with which wood is wrought.

For

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For Daidalos was the most cunning of all Athenians, and he first invented the plumb-line, and the auger, and glue, and many a tool with which wood is wrought.

glue

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For Daidalos was the most cunning of all Athenians, and he first invented the plumb-line, and the auger, and glue, and many a tool with which wood is wrought.

gold

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And he sat among the pillars of the hall, upon his throne of beaten gold, and around him stood the speaking statues which Daidalos had made by his skill.

great

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And at last they came to Crete, and to Cnossus, beneath the peaks of Ida, and to the palace of Minos the great king, to whom Zeus himself taught laws.

had

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And he sat among the pillars of the hall, upon his throne of beaten gold, and around him stood the speaking statues which Daidalos had made by his skill.

hall

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And he sat among the pillars of the hall, upon his throne of beaten gold, and around him stood the speaking statues which Daidalos had made by his skill.

he

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So he was the wisest of all mortal kings, and conquered all the Ægean isles; and his ships were as many as the sea-gulls, and his palace like a marble hill.

hill

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So he was the wisest of all mortal kings, and conquered all the Ægean isles; and his ships were as many as the sea-gulls, and his palace like a marble hill.

him

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And he sat among the pillars of the hall, upon his throne of beaten gold, and around him stood the speaking statues which Daidalos had made by his skill.

himself

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And at last they came to Crete, and to Cnossus, beneath the peaks of Ida, and to the palace of Minos the great king, to whom Zeus himself taught laws.

his

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So he was the wisest of all mortal kings, and conquered all the Ægean isles; and his ships were as many as the sea-gulls, and his palace like a marble hill.

HOW

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading HOW THESEUS SLEW THE MINOTAUR

Ida

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And at last they came to Crete, and to Cnossus, beneath the peaks of Ida, and to the palace of Minos the great king, to whom Zeus himself taught laws.

invented

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For Daidalos was the most cunning of all Athenians, and he first invented the plumb-line, and the auger, and glue, and many a tool with which wood is wrought.

is

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For Daidalos was the most cunning of all Athenians, and he first invented the plumb-line, and the auger, and glue, and many a tool with which wood is wrought.

isles

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So he was the wisest of all mortal kings, and conquered all the Ægean isles; and his ships were as many as the sea-gulls, and his palace like a marble hill.

king

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And at last they came to Crete, and to Cnossus, beneath the peaks of Ida, and to the palace of Minos the great king, to whom Zeus himself taught laws.

kings

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So he was the wisest of all mortal kings, and conquered all the Ægean isles; and his ships were as many as the sea-gulls, and his palace like a marble hill.

last

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And at last they came to Crete, and to Cnossus, beneath the peaks of Ida, and to the palace of Minos the great king, to whom Zeus himself taught laws.

laws

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And at last they came to Crete, and to Cnossus, beneath the peaks of Ida, and to the palace of Minos the great king, to whom Zeus himself taught laws.

like

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So he was the wisest of all mortal kings, and conquered all the Ægean isles; and his ships were as many as the sea-gulls, and his palace like a marble hill.

made

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And he sat among the pillars of the hall, upon his throne of beaten gold, and around him stood the speaking statues which Daidalos had made by his skill.

many

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So he was the wisest of all mortal kings, and conquered all the Ægean isles; and his ships were as many as the sea-gulls, and his palace like a marble hill.

marble

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So he was the wisest of all mortal kings, and conquered all the Ægean isles; and his ships were as many as the sea-gulls, and his palace like a marble hill.

Minos

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And at last they came to Crete, and to Cnossus, beneath the peaks of Ida, and to the palace of Minos the great king, to whom Zeus himself taught laws.

MINOTAUR

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading HOW THESEUS SLEW THE MINOTAUR

mortal

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So he was the wisest of all mortal kings, and conquered all the Ægean isles; and his ships were as many as the sea-gulls, and his palace like a marble hill.

most

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For Daidalos was the most cunning of all Athenians, and he first invented the plumb-line, and the auger, and glue, and many a tool with which wood is wrought.

of

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And at last they came to Crete, and to Cnossus, beneath the peaks of Ida, and to the palace of Minos the great king, to whom Zeus himself taught laws.

palace

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And at last they came to Crete, and to Cnossus, beneath the peaks of Ida, and to the palace of Minos the great king, to whom Zeus himself taught laws.

peaks

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And at last they came to Crete, and to Cnossus, beneath the peaks of Ida, and to the palace of Minos the great king, to whom Zeus himself taught laws.

pillars

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And he sat among the pillars of the hall, upon his throne of beaten gold, and around him stood the speaking statues which Daidalos had made by his skill.

plumb-line

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For Daidalos was the most cunning of all Athenians, and he first invented the plumb-line, and the auger, and glue, and many a tool with which wood is wrought.

sat

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And he sat among the pillars of the hall, upon his throne of beaten gold, and around him stood the speaking statues which Daidalos had made by his skill.

sea-gulls

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So he was the wisest of all mortal kings, and conquered all the Ægean isles; and his ships were as many as the sea-gulls, and his palace like a marble hill.

ships

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So he was the wisest of all mortal kings, and conquered all the Ægean isles; and his ships were as many as the sea-gulls, and his palace like a marble hill.

skill

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And he sat among the pillars of the hall, upon his throne of beaten gold, and around him stood the speaking statues which Daidalos had made by his skill.

SLEW

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading HOW THESEUS SLEW THE MINOTAUR

So

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So he was the wisest of all mortal kings, and conquered all the Ægean isles; and his ships were as many as the sea-gulls, and his palace like a marble hill.

speaking

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And he sat among the pillars of the hall, upon his throne of beaten gold, and around him stood the speaking statues which Daidalos had made by his skill.

statues

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And he sat among the pillars of the hall, upon his throne of beaten gold, and around him stood the speaking statues which Daidalos had made by his skill.

stoodverbUS /stʊd/

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading And he sat among the pillars of the hall, upon his throne of beaten gold, and around him stood the speaking statues which Daidalos had made by his skill.

taught

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And at last they came to Crete, and to Cnossus, beneath the peaks of Ida, and to the palace of Minos the great king, to whom Zeus himself taught laws.

THE

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading HOW THESEUS SLEW THE MINOTAUR

THESEUS

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading HOW THESEUS SLEW THE MINOTAUR

they

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And at last they came to Crete, and to Cnossus, beneath the peaks of Ida, and to the palace of Minos the great king, to whom Zeus himself taught laws.

throne

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And he sat among the pillars of the hall, upon his throne of beaten gold, and around him stood the speaking statues which Daidalos had made by his skill.

to

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And at last they came to Crete, and to Cnossus, beneath the peaks of Ida, and to the palace of Minos the great king, to whom Zeus himself taught laws.

tool

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For Daidalos was the most cunning of all Athenians, and he first invented the plumb-line, and the auger, and glue, and many a tool with which wood is wrought.

upon

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And he sat among the pillars of the hall, upon his throne of beaten gold, and around him stood the speaking statues which Daidalos had made by his skill.

was

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So he was the wisest of all mortal kings, and conquered all the Ægean isles; and his ships were as many as the sea-gulls, and his palace like a marble hill.

were

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So he was the wisest of all mortal kings, and conquered all the Ægean isles; and his ships were as many as the sea-gulls, and his palace like a marble hill.

which

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And he sat among the pillars of the hall, upon his throne of beaten gold, and around him stood the speaking statues which Daidalos had made by his skill.

whom

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And at last they came to Crete, and to Cnossus, beneath the peaks of Ida, and to the palace of Minos the great king, to whom Zeus himself taught laws.

wisest

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So he was the wisest of all mortal kings, and conquered all the Ægean isles; and his ships were as many as the sea-gulls, and his palace like a marble hill.

with

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For Daidalos was the most cunning of all Athenians, and he first invented the plumb-line, and the auger, and glue, and many a tool with which wood is wrought.

wood

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For Daidalos was the most cunning of all Athenians, and he first invented the plumb-line, and the auger, and glue, and many a tool with which wood is wrought.

wrought

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For Daidalos was the most cunning of all Athenians, and he first invented the plumb-line, and the auger, and glue, and many a tool with which wood is wrought.

Zeus

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And at last they came to Crete, and to Cnossus, beneath the peaks of Ida, and to the palace of Minos the great king, to whom Zeus himself taught laws.

Ægean

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So he was the wisest of all mortal kings, and conquered all the Ægean isles; and his ships were as many as the sea-gulls, and his palace like a marble hill.

Chapter 17 of The Heroes by Charles Kingsley holds 59 sentences, grouped into 12 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 17 of The Heroes contain?

Chapter 17 holds 59 sentences of The Heroes, unabridged, divided into 12 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 17 of The Heroes by Charles Kingsley exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 59 sentences, grouped into 12 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 17 of The Heroes?

Work through the 12 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 12 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 17 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 17 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading The Heroes

Common questions about reading The Heroes by Charles Kingsley on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Heroes?

Yes. All 1826 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #677 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Heroes is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #677, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Heroes take to read?

About 152 minutes of reading across 366 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Heroes section by section

How to work through The Heroes section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 18 chapters of The Heroes to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The Heroes

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Heroes, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Perseus
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Heroes; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Vowed
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Heroes; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Gorgon
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Heroes; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Thiops
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Heroes; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.