GREEK MYTHOSThe Godsunder Codex · Places

CRETE (island)

Island of Greece

Kind of place: Island
Patron: Zeus
Landmarks: Temples of Britomartis/Dictynna Diodorus 5.76; Hidden lurking-place of the Cretan monster Seneca, Phaedra act 2 ¶13; Remote cave The Theogony ll. 453-491
Where: 35.31° N, 24.89° E

Crete is described as having a hundred cities. Aeneid 3.84 The Curetes enacted the fable of Jupiter's birth, using drums and tumult to distract Saturn and hide the infant from him. Strabo 10.3.11 The Curetes and nymphs nursed Zeus on this island. Apollodorus 1.1.6

Described in the sources

Zeus was born in a remote cave on Mount Aegeum in Crete, where he was hidden and raised. Apollodorus 1.1.6 +3 Cnossus was a city on the island of Crete, situated twenty-five stadia from the northern sea, and was one of the largest and most distinguished cities along with Gortyna and Cydonia. Iliad 2 ¶50 +3 Crete is described as the divine home and sacred haunt of the Curetes. Aeneid 3.121 +2 Crete features an eastern promontory named Samonium. Strabo 10.3.20 +1 The Samians established the city of Cydonia on Crete. Herodotus 3.44.1 +1 The labyrinth was constructed on Crete to house the Minotaur. Diodorus 4.77 +1 Miletus is identified as a town located on the island of Crete. Iliad 2 ¶50 +1 Daedalus fled to Crete after killing his nephew and student Calos. Diodorus 4.77 +1 Cape Salmonium is identified as the eastern extremity of the island. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 4.20 ¶1 +1 It extends from west to east, running parallel to the neighboring lands. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 4.20 ¶1 +1

Gods and worship

Crete is not as beloved by Zeus as Delos is by Apollo. Callimachus, Hymn 4 ¶11 Cretan warriors were ennobled by their superior skill in using arrows. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 16.65 ¶2 Youths called Curetes performed military dances in armour to worship Jupiter here. Strabo 10.3.11 Religious rites concerning the nurture of Jupiter are associated with Cretan affairs. Strabo 10.3.7 Inhabitants of this island built temples and performed sacrifices to honor Britomartis. Diodorus 5.76

Stories and history

Leucus expelled Idomeneus from the island. Apollodorus, Epitome 6.10 Spartans colonized some cities within Crete. Strabo 10.4.17 King Teucer is said to have sprung from Crete. Aeneid 3.84 The Dorians are called Trichaïces by the poet. Strabo 10.4.6 Crete is described as being sacred to the wind. Statius, Achilleid 1.361-388 ¶2 The island is famous for having a hundred cities. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 4.20 ¶1 Dorians led by Tectamus crossed over to the island. Diodorus 5.80 The island suffered devastations from the Cilicians. Strabo 10.4.9 Others believed the discovered body belonged to Otus. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 7.16 ¶1 Many writers disagree about the history of the island. Diodorus 5.80

Myths set at Crete

In the age of the gods

Before the heroes. In Godsunder these are history: everyone in the world knows them.

The Birth and Hiding of Zeus. Rhea travels to Crete to give birth to Zeus and hides him from her husband Cronus. She entrusts the infant to various guardians to ensure his survival. Apollodorus 1.1.6 +5 Rhea
The Birth and Upbringing of Zeus. hook: "The infant Zeus is hidden in Crete to escape his father Cronus." goal: "The infant is raised in secret by various guardians to survive." outcome: "The infant grows rapidly to manhood while planning his future deeds."} Aeschylus, Suppliant Maidens 885-892 +5 Zeus
The Protection of the Infant Dionysus. Athena was appointed to protect the infant Dionysus from his stepmother Rhea. She rushed to Crete with Dionysus to fight the Titans and persuaded Hera to allow the infant to nurse from her breast. Diodorus 3.70 +2 Athena
The Sojourn of Zeus in Crete. Zeus, the king of the inhabited earth, sojourned among humans in Crete and led the gods to Panchaea. He founded a city in Dicta and established his everlasting kingship among men. Diodorus 5.46 +2 Zeus
The Birth of Zeus in Crete. hook: "Heaven and Earth devised a plan to hide Zeus from Cronos.", "goal": "Rhea was sent to Crete to give birth to Zeus safely.", "outcome": ""}, The Theogony ll. 453-491 Uranus

In the age of heroes

Europa in Crete. Asterius, the Cretan prince, takes Europa as his wife and raises her children, Minos, Rhadamanthys, and Sarpedon, because he has no children of his own. Zeus gives Talos to Europa to serve as the protector of Crete, and she is assigned the role of warder for the island. Apollodorus 3.1.1 +5 Europa
The Abduction of Europa. Zeus, driven by romantic feelings for Europa, transforms into a bull to abduct her from Phoenicia to Crete. He later reveals his true form and swears an oath regarding the consequences of their union. Apollodorus 2.5.7 +5 Zeus
The Dispute with Minos and Flight to Lycia. Sarpedon, adopted by the Cretan king Asterius, loses a dispute for power to Minos and is driven out of Crete. He flees to Asia, leads a Cretan colony to settle in Lycia, and becomes its king, renaming the local people Termilae. Apollodorus 3.1.2 +5 Sarpedon
The Flight from Crete. Daedalus and his son Icarus are imprisoned in the Labyrinth by King Minos, prompting Daedalus to construct wings for their escape. They fly from Crete, but Icarus dies, leaving Daedalus to continue his journey to Sicily or Cumae. Aeneid 6.14 +5 Daedalus
The Flight from Crete and the Fall of Icarus. hook: "Daedalus and Icarus flee Crete using wings made of wax and feathers to escape Minos's fleet.", "goal": "Icarus aims to fly high toward the heavens despite his father's instructions to stay at a middle altitude.", "outcome": "Icarus's wings melt in the sun's heat, causing him to fall into the sea and drown."}, Apollodorus, Epitome 1.12 +5 Icarus
The Return to Crete. Idomeneus returns to Crete after the Trojan War, only to find his wife Meda has committed adultery with Leucus, who forces him to leave. He eventually travels to Italy and Colophon. Aeneid 11.243 +5 Idomeneus
The Slaying of the Minotaur. hook: "Theseus volunteers to sail to Crete to end the tribute of youths by killing the Minotaur." goal: "He aims to defeat the Minotaur and return the Athenian youths safely to Athens." outcome: "Theseus kills the Minotaur, stops the tribute, and sails away with Ariadne."} Argonautica 3 ¶80 +5 Theseus
The Voyage to Crete and the Funeral Games. hook: "Theseus is selected to sail to Crete to face the Minotaur." goal: "He aims to defeat the beast and return safely to Athens." outcome: "He wins the funeral games and prepares to signal his return with a white sail."} Apollodorus, Epitome 1.8 +5 Theseus
The Capture of the Cretan Bull. Heracles is commanded to capture the Cretan Bull as his seventh task, leading him to Crete where he confronts the beast. He successfully subdues the bull and transports it back to Eurystheus, though he eventually releases it. Apollodorus 2.5.7 +4 Heracles
The Construction of the Labyrinth. Daedalus builds a complex structure in Crete to hold a monster for a tribute. He also creates a specific green space in Cnossus for Ariadne. Apollodorus 3.1.4 +4 Daedalus
The Cretan Bull and the Birth of the Minotaur. Minos promised to sacrifice a bull to Poseidon but kept the beautiful animal for himself, leading to divine retribution. Daedalus built a wooden cow for Pasiphae at Minos's court. Apollodorus 2.5.7 +3 Minos
The Disguise of the Athenian Youths. hook: Theseus refuses to let the lottery decide his fate and volunteers to go to Crete. goal: He aims to replace the maidens destined for sacrifice with young men to save them. outcome: He successfully disguises the men as maidens and hides their identities from the Cretans. Plutarch, Theseus 17.2 +2 Theseus

9 more

The Return to Crete. hook: "Idomeneus is driven from his hereditary kingdom of Crete." goal: "He sails home from Troy after the city is destroyed." outcome: "All his surviving followers returned safely to Crete with him."} Aeneid 3.121 +2 Idomeneus
The Selection of the Athenian Tribute. Minos arrives in Attica to collect a tribute of Athenian youths and maidens, personally selecting them and requiring them to sail unarmed. Theseus is chosen first based on a prior agreement, and the group is imprisoned in the Labyrinth. Plutarch, Theseus 15.1 +2 Minos
The Storm at Malea. Menelaus departs for Crete but delays to bury his steersman Phrontis, who was killed by Apollo. Jove then causes a storm that splits his fleet at the Malean heads, wrecking half of it on rocks. Odyssey 3 ¶24 +2 Menelaus
The Wedding of Peleus and Thetis. hook: "Posidon travels from Phoenice to Crete to join a festive procession.", "goal": "Posidon leads the group through the sea and escorts the bride and groom to their chamber.", "outcome": "Posidon escorts Thetis and Peleus to their bridal chamber."}, Lucian, Dialogues of the Sea-Gods 15 ¶2 +2 Poseidon
The Affair with Procris. hook: "Minos receives Procris, who has fled from her husband, and gives her a dog from Crete.", "goal: "Minos attempts to seduce Procris.", "outcome: "Minos sleeps with Procris after she gives him a protective root to drink."} Apollodorus 2.4.7 +1 Minos
The Betrayal by Scylla. hook: "Scylla offers Minos a purple lock of hair as a pledge, but he refuses it." goal: "" outcome: "Minos curses Scylla, wishing that both earth and sea would deny her existence, and forbids her from entering Crete."} Ovid Met. 8.1-151 (4) +1 Minos
The Giant Fish of Geryon. Geryon prepares a massive fish for a meal and orders locals to gather wood to boil it. The residents claim he raises excellent cows in the area. Athenaeus 8.38 +1 Geryon
The Pursuit of Britomartis. Minos, driven by his love for the nymph Britomartis, sets out to catch her. He roams the hills of Crete for nine months in an unceasing pursuit. Callimachus, Hymn 3 ¶9 Minos
The Visit to Crete and Egypt. Lycurgus travels to Crete and Egypt to escape accusations and study foreign laws. He returns with ordinances modeled on the divine laws of Minos. Strabo 10.4.19