Middle Kingdom: Egyptian chronological term for Dynasties 11–13; around 2010–1720 B.C.

Minerva: Roman goddess of wisdom and invention; known as Athena to the Greeks

Minotaur: mythical half-man and half-bull who was kept captive in the Labyrinth on the island of Crete

mosaic: design made by setting small cubes of stone or glass into mortar (cement)

mummification: artificial process of preserving the body through dehydrating substances and removal of the internal organs

mummy: a preserved corpse

Mycenae: fortified city and palace which gave its name to a Bronze Age culture (around1550–1100 B.C.) composed of small kingdoms in southern Greece and nearby islands. In legend the Myceneans attacked Troy after the Trojan prince, Paris, eloped with Helen, wife of Menelaus, king of Sparta

myth: traditional story that explains some aspect of a culture's history or beliefs