I've studied music theory for many years now, and one thing has always confused me about the naming methodology for the minor scale.
A major scale is based off the Ionian mode and consist of only major and perfect scale intervals.
C D E F G A B C P1 M2 M3 P4 P5 M6 M7 P8
The minor scale is based off the Aeolian mode and consist of major, minor and perfect scale intervals.
A B C D E F G A P1 M2 m3 P4 P5 m6 m7 P8
There is a mode that consists solely of minor and perfect intervals which is known as the Phrygian mode.
E F G A B C D E P1 m2 m3 P4 P5 m6 m7 P8
It seems to me that the Phrygian mode is more minor than the Aeolian scale and should be known, at least from technical terms, as the minor scale. Is there a reason why the Aeolian mode was chosen over the Phrygian mode to be the minor scale to juxtapose the major scale?