Crete

"The Greeks themselves looked upon Crete as the cradle of their , , and . The famous code of Lycurgus was the fruit of his training in Crete. When a plague fell upon Athens for a violation of sanctuary, Solon counselled that help should be sought from Crete, and a wise man was brought over to purify the city. Diodorus is of the opinion that all the chief Hellenic deities originated in Crete—Demeter, Aphrodite, Artemis, and even Apollo!"

"The Cretans had as leader , famed for his spear, even they that held Cnosus and Gortys, famed for its walls, Lyctus and Miletus and Lycastus, white with chalk, and Phaestus and Rhytium, well-peopled cities; and all they beside that dwelt in Crete of the hundred cities."

"Therein furthermore the famed god of the two strong arms cunningly wrought a dancing-floor like unto that which in wide Cnosus Daedalus fashioned of old for fair-tressed Ariadne. There were youths dancing and maidens of the price of many cattle, holding their hands upon the wrists one of the other. Of these the maidens were clad in fine linen, while. the youths wore well-woven tunics faintly glistening with oil; and the maidens had fair chaplets, and the youths had daggers of gold hanging from silver baldrics. Now would they run round with cunning feet exceeding lightly, as when a potter sitteth by his wheel that is fitted between his hands and maketh trial of it whether it will run; and now again would. they run in rows toward each other. And a great company stood around the lovely dance, taking joy therein; and two tumblers whirled up and down through the midst of them as leaders in the dance."

"'Tis love of thee hath brought me to make so far a sea-course in a bull's likeness; and ere 'tis long thou shalt be in Crete, that was my nurse when I was with her; and there shall thy wedding be, whereof shall spring famous children who shall all be kings among them that are in the earth."

"O hound of Crete, think'st thou my spouse to get?"