Why must king aegeus of Athens send 14 children to the minotaur?

King Aegeus of Athens was compelled to send 14 children to the Minotaur as a tribute to King Minos of Crete, following Athens' defeat in a war against Crete. This brutal demand was a consequence of the death of Minos' son, Androgeus, at the hands of the Athenians. The tribute consisted of seven boys and seven girls, who were sent to be sacrificed to the Minotaur, a monstrous creature that dwelled in the Labyrinth, symbolizing the harsh penalties imposed by Minos on Athens. This act was meant to appease Minos and prevent further conflict between the two kingdoms.