The Kouretes Daktyloi

7/23/2019 The Kouretes Daktyloi

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THE KOURETES DAKTYLOI (Curetes and Dactyls) were three, !e, "r n#ne

rust#c Da#$"nes (S%#r#ts) a%%"#nted &y Rhea t" 'uard the #nant '"d eus #n a ca!e

"n *"unt Ida #n Krete (Crete)+ In "rder t" ee% h#$ saely h#dden r"$ h#s

cann#&al#st#c ather, the T#tan Kr"n"s (Cr"nus), they dr"wned "ut h#s cr#es w#th a

ren-#ed dance " clash#n' s%ear and sh#eld+ The K"uretes were '"ds " the w#ld

$"unta#ns#de, #n!ent"rs " the rust#c arts " $etalw"r#n', she%herd#n', hunt#n'and &eeee%#n'+ They were als" the rst ar$ed warr#"rs, and '"ds " the "r'#ast#c

war dance %er"r$ed &y the y"uths " Krete and Eu&"#a+

The !e Datyl"# (.n'ers.) were usually re'arded as #dent#cal t" the K"uretes+

These als" had an e/ual nu$&er " s#sters na$ed Heater#des, wh" t"'ether

a%%eared t" ha!e re%resented all ten n'ers " the hu$an hand 0 daktyloi &e#n' the

1ree w"rd "r .n'ers.+ The $ale and e$ale Datyl"# were als" 2"#ned #n

$arr#a'e, %erha%s #$a'#ned as a har$"n#"us .n'er t" n'er. "ld#n' " the hands,

and r"$ th#s un#"n were &"rn the rust#c Satyr"#, Ore#ades and tr#&es " K"uretes

(the rst Kretan $en)+ These y"un'er K"uretes were hundred #n nu$&er, they

$arr#ed the#r s#ster *el#a# (Ash0Tree 3y$%hs) and r"$ the#r &ranches ash#"ned therst s%ears+

1ree 3a$e Transl#terat#"n Lat#n S%ell#n' Translat#"n

456789:

456789;<=:

K"ry&as

K"ry&antes

C"ry&as

C"ry&antesC"ry&ant#c Dancers

47689:

47689;<=:

Kyr&as

Kyr&antes

Cyr&as

Cyr&antesC"ry&ant#c Dancers

The K"uretes were cl"sely #dent#ed w#th, # n"t the sa$e as, se!eral "ther 'r"u%s " da#$"nes, #nclud#n' theK"ry&antes Eu&"#"# (Eu&"ean C"ry&antes), the K"ry&antes

Sa$"thra#"# (Sa$"thrac#an C"ry&antes), theKa&e#r"# (Ca&e#r#), as well

as H"%l"da$"s and h#s 1#'antes, and the K"urete Anyt"s (Curete Anytus)+ One "

the#r nu$&er, >yrrh#h"s (>yrrh#chus), was s"$et#$es #dent#ed w#th Se#len"s, the

"ld satyr c"$%an#"n " D#"nys"s+ An"ther, *el#sseus, a%%ears t" &e ha!e &een

c"nnected w#th Ar#sta#"s (Ar#staeus) the d#sc"!erer " h"ney+ The Datyl"# (Dactyls)

were als" "ccass#"nally #dent#ed w#th the Telh#nes " Rh"des+ 3"nnus #n

h#sDionysiaca l#sts tw" " the Telh#nes Da$na$eneus and Sel$#s, wh#ch are

na$es a%%l#ed t" Datyl"# &y Hes#"d+

PARENTS DAKTYLOI

?@+@ 1AIA (Dionysiaca 14.23)

?B+@ HEKATEROS (Homerica Fragments, Strabo 10.3.7)

?B+B A3KHIALE (rgona!tica 1.1122)

?B+ HEKATEROS A3KHIALE

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http://www.theoi.com/Titan/TitanKronos.html

http://www.theoi.com/Georgikos/KorybantesEuboiai.html

http://www.theoi.com/Georgikos/KorybantesSamothrakioi.html


http://www.theoi.com/Georgikos/Kabeiroi.html

http://www.theoi.com/Georgikos/KoureteHoplodamos.html

http://www.theoi.com/Georgikos/KoureteAnytos.html

http://www.theoi.com/Georgikos/KouretePyrrhikhos.html

http://www.theoi.com/Georgikos/Seilenos.html

http://www.theoi.com/Georgikos/KoureteMelisseus.html

http://www.theoi.com/Georgikos/Aristaios.html

http://www.theoi.com/Pontios/Telkhines.html

http://www.theoi.com/Protogenos/Gaia.html

http://www.theoi.com/Georgikos/Hekateros.html

http://www.theoi.com/Titan/TitanisAnkhiale.html




http://www.theoi.com/Georgikos/KorybantesEuboiai.html



http://www.theoi.com/Georgikos/Kabeiroi.html

http://www.theoi.com/Georgikos/KoureteHoplodamos.html

http://www.theoi.com/Georgikos/KoureteAnytos.html


http://www.theoi.com/Georgikos/Seilenos.html


http://www.theoi.com/Georgikos/Aristaios.html

http://www.theoi.com/Pontios/Telkhines.html






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PARENTS KOURETES

?@+@ Fl""d " OURA3OS 1AIA ("#eogony 17$, %acc#ylides Frag &2)

?@+B Sh"wer " Ra#n 1AIA ('etamor#oses 4.22)

?@+ 1AIA (*reek +yric nonymo!s Frag -&, Strabo 10.3.-, Diodor!s Sic!l!s

&.$&.1, Dionysiaca 13.13& 14.23)

?B+@ THE HEKATERIDES (Homerica Fragments)

?B+B THE DAKTYLOI G THE HEKATERIDES G (Strabo 10.3.1-/22)

?B+ THE DAKTYLOI G (Diodor!s Sic!l!s &.$&.1)

?+@ KRO3OS (Strabo 10.3.1-)

NAMES

?@+@ KEL*IS, DA*3A*E3EUS, DELAS, SKYTHES (Hesiod daean Dactyls Frag 1)

?@+B KEL*IS, DA*3A*E3EUS (Strabo 10.3.22)

?@+ SKEL*IS (allimac#!s Frag 10&)?@+ KEL*IS (id 'etamor#oses 4.21)

?@+ SKEL*IS, DA*3A*E3EUS, LYKOS (Dionysiaca 14.3$)

?B+@ *ELISSEUS (ollodor!s 1.4/&, Diodor!s Sic!l!s &.$0.2, Hygin!s stronomica

2.13)

?B+B *ELISSEUS, DA*3EUS, IDAIOS, >RY*3EUS, *I*AS, AK*O3,

OKYTHOOS (Dionysiaca 13.13& 14.23)

?+@ >YRRHIKHOS (a!sanias 3.2&.2)

?+B >YRRHIKHOS, IDAIOS, KYRFAS (Dionysiaca 14.23)

?+@ TITIAS, KYLLE3OS ?these $ay &e Ka&e#r"# (rgona!tica 1.1122)

?+@ HERAKLES (Strabo 10.3.30, Diodor!s Sic!l!s &.$4.3)?+B HERAKLES, >AIO3AIOS, IASIOS, IDAS (a!sanias &.7.$)

OFFSPRING DAKTYLOI *

?@+@ THE KOURETES, THE SATYROI, THE OREIADES (&y the Heater#des) (Strabo

10.3.22)

?@+B THE KOURETES (Diodor!s Sic!l!s &.$4.3)

?@+ THE KOURETES, THE KORYFA3TES (Strabo 10.3.22)

OFFSPRING KOURETES *

?@+@ THE DAKTYLOI (*en) G@JJ (Strabo 10.3.22)

The Da#$"nes Datyl"#0K"uretes Da#$"nes athered the rst "ne hundred $en "

Krete+ The na$es used t" descr#&e athers and s"ns were re/uently #nterchan'ed,

s"$e acc"unts say the K"urete0Da#$"nes athered the Datyl0*en, "thers that the

Datyl0Da#$"nes athered the K"uret0*en+

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http://www.theoi.com/Georgikos/Kouretes.html








http://www.theoi.com/Georgikos/DaktylosHerakles.html



http://www.theoi.com/Georgikos/Satyroi.html

http://www.theoi.com/Nymphe/Dryades.html





http://www.theoi.com/Protogenos/Ouranos.html
















http://www.theoi.com/Georgikos/Satyroi.html

http://www.theoi.com/Nymphe/Dryades.html







H"we!er the 'eneral understand#n' was that the Da#$"nes (called Datyl"# and

K"uretes), athered an early race " $en (als" called Datyl"# and K"uretes)+ These

$#'ht ha!e &een the S#l!er Race " *en descr#&ed &y Hes#"d+

ENCYCLOPEDIA

CURETES (K"uretMs)+ Rhea, c"ncealed r"$ Cr"n"s, 'a!e &#rth t" eus #n a ca!e " $"unt

and wh"$ she entrusted t" the Curetes and the ny$%hs Adraste#a and Ida, the dau'hters

*el#sseus+ They ed h#$ w#th $#l " the '"at A$althe#a, and the &ees " the $"unta#n %r"

h#$ w#th h"ney+ (A%"ll"d+ #+ @+ N P Call#$+ l. c. 5 D#"d+ !+ QJP c"$%+ Athen+ G#+ QJP O!+ Fast. !

DACTYLI (Datul"#), the Dactyls " $"unt Ida #n >hry'#a, a&ul"us &e#n's t" wh"$ the d#sc

#r"n and the art " w"r#n' #t &y $eans " re was ascr#&ed+ The#r na$e Dactyls, that #s, #

acc"unted "r #n !ar#"us waysP &y the#r nu$&er &e#n' !e "r ten, "r &y the act " the#r ser

Rhea 2ust as the n'ers ser!e the hand, "r &y the st"ry " the#r ha!#n' l#!ed at the ""t (en

datul"#s) " $"unt Ida+ (>"lluG, ##+ P Stra&+ G+ %+ QP D#"d+ !+ +) *"st " "ur auth"r#t#es d

>hry'#a as the "r#'#nal seat " the Dactyls+ (D#"d+ G!##+ QP Sch"l+ ad ollon. 6#od. #+ @@BP

c.) There they were c"nnected w#th the w"rsh#% " Rhea+ They are s"$et#$es c"n"unded

#dent#ed w#th the Curetes, C"ry&antes, Ca&e#r#, and Telch#nesP "r they are descr#&ed as th

" the Ca&e#r# and C"ry&antes+ (Stra&+ G+ %+ P Sch"l+ ad rat. P Ser!+ ad irg. *eorg. #!

Th#s c"nus#"n w#th the Ca&e#r# als" acc"unts "r Sa$"thrace &e#n' #n s"$e acc"unts desc

the#r res#dence (D#"d+ !+ P c"$%+ Arn"&+ ad. *ent. ###+ @)P and D#"d"rus states, "n the a

" Cretan h#st"r#ans, that the Dactyls had &een "ccu%#ed #n #ncantat#"ns and "ther $a'#c %

that there&y they eGc#ted 'reat w"nder #n Sa$"thrace, and that Or%heus was the#r d#sc#%le

th#n's+ The#r c"nneG#"n "r #dent#cat#"n w#th the Curetes e!en led t" the#r &e#n' re'arded

sa$e as the R"$an >enates+ (Arn"&+ ###+ J+) Acc"rd#n' t" a trad#t#"n #n Cle$ens AleGandr#

(Strom. #+ %+ B) the Dactyls d#d n"t d#sc"!er the #r"n #n the >hry'#an Ida, &ut #n the #slandCy%rusP and "thers a'a#n transer the$ t" $"unt Ida #n Crete, alth"u'h the anc#ent trad#t#"

latter #sland scarcely c"nta#n any traces " early w"r#n' #n $etal there+ (A%"ll"n+ Rh"d+ #+

>l#n+ H. . !##+ Q+) The#r nu$&er a%%ears t" ha!e "r#'#nally &een three Cel$#s (the s$elte

Da$na$eneus (the ha$$er), and Ac$"n (the an!#l)+ (Sch"l+ ad ollon. l. c.)+ T" these "t

su&se/uently added, such as Scythes, the >hry'#an, wh" #n!ented the s$elt#n' " #r"n (Cle

AleG+ Strom. #+ %+ B), Heracles (Stra&+ l. c.), and Delas+ (Euse&+ rae. 8ang. G+ %+ Q+)

A%"ll"n#us Rh"d#us $ent#"ns the her" T#t#as and Cyllenus as the %r#nc#%al Dactyls, and a l"

trad#t#"n " El#s $ent#"ned, &es#des Heracles, >ac"n#us, E%#$edes, as#us, and Idas "r Aces

DactylsP &ut these see$ t" ha!e &een &e#n's alt"'ether d#Verent r"$ the Idaean Dactyls,

2ud'e r"$ the#r na$es, they $ust ha!e &een heal#n' d#!#n#t#es+ (>aus+ !+ Q+ N , @+ N , W+

B@+ N P Stra&+ !###+ %+ +) The#r nu$&er #s als" stated t" ha!e &een !e, ten (!e $ale an

e$ale "nes), ty0tw", "r e!en "ne hundred+ The trad#t#"n wh#ch ass#'ns t" the$ the Cret

the#r ha&#tat#"n, descr#&es the$ as the earl#est #nha&#tants " Crete, and as ha!#n' '"ne th

w#th *y'd"n ("r *#n"s) r"$ >hry'#a, and as ha!#n' d#sc"!ered the #r"n #n $"unt Ferecyn

(D#"d+ !+ P C#c+ de at. Deor. ###+ @+) X#th re'ard t" the real nature " the Dactyls, they se

n" $"re than the $yth#cal re%resentat#!es " the d#sc"!erers " #r"n and " the art " s$el

$etals w#th the a#d " re, "r the #$%"rtance " th#s art #s suc#ently 'reat "r the anc#ent



ascr#&e #ts #n!ent#"n t" su%ernatural &e#n's+ The "r#'#nal n"t#"n " the Dactyls was aterwa

eGtended, and they are sa#d t" ha!e d#sc"!ered !ar#"us "ther th#n's wh#ch are useul "r %l

$an P thus they are re%"rted t" ha!e #ntr"duced $us#c r"$ >hry'#a #nt" 1reece, t" ha!e #

rhyth$, es%ec#ally the dactyl#c rhyth$+ (>lut+ de '!s. P D#"$edes, %+ Q, ed+ >utschP Cle

AleG+ Strom. #+ %+ J+) They were #n 'eneral l""ed u%"n as $yster#"us s"rcerers, and are

als" descr#&ed as the #n!ent"rs " the E%hes#an #ncantat#"n "r$ulaeP and %ers"ns when sur#'htened used t" %r"n"unce the na$es " the Dactyls as w"rds " $a'#c %"wer+ (>lut+ de

rb. +!n. J+)

E>I*EDIES (E%#$MdMs), "ne " the Curetes+ (>aus+ !+ Q+ N , @+ N )+

TITIAS (T#t#as), "ne " the Idaean Dactyls, "r acc"rd#n' t" "thers, a *ar#andyn#an her", #s c

s"n " eus and *ar#andynus+ (Sch"l+ ad ollon. 6#od. #+ @@B+) On h#s eG%ed#t#"n a'a#nst

A$a-"ns, Heracles ass#sted the *ar#andyn# a'a#nst the Fe&ryces, and dur#n' the stru''le,

the leader " the *ar#andyn#, ell+ Dur#n' the uneral 'a$es Heracles c"n/uered T#t#as, wh

the ather " Farynus, wh#le "thers call >r#"laus and *ar#andynus s"ns " T#t#as+ (Sch"l+ ad

6#od. ##+ QWJ, ad esc#yl. ers. -33 5Eustath+ ad Dionys. erieg. -7+)

S"urce D#ct#"nary " 1ree and R"$an F#"'ra%hy and *yth"l"'y+

BIRTH OF THE CURETES & DACTYS

I) FOR3 O THE EARTH

The K"uretes (Curetes) and Datyl"# (Dactyls) were descr#&ed as earth0&"rn

(gigantes) warr#"rs wh#ch s%ran' ully 'r"wn r"$ the 'r"und arrayed #n ar$"ur and

ar$ed w#th wea%"ns+

The na$e 1#'antes was als" used t" descr#&e a certa#n tr#&e " '#ants wh#ch wa'ed

war "n the '"ds+ Hes#"d #n h#s "#eogoony $ay &e reerr#n' t" e#ther #n the %assa'e

/u"ted &el"w, th"u'h #n the structure " h#s sa'a, the a%%earance " the K"uretes

here $aes $"re sense+

Hesiod, "#eogony 17$ 9 (trans. 8elyn/:#ite) (*reek eic t# or 7t# %..) ;

.Then the s"n ?Kr"n"s, Cr"nus r"$ h#s a$&ush stretched "rth h#s let hand and #n

h#s r#'ht t"" the 'reat l"n' s#cle w#th 2a''ed teeth, and sw#tly l"%%ed "V h#s "wn

atherZs ?Ouran"sZ, Hea!enZs $e$&ers and cast the$ away t" all &eh#nd h#$+ And

n"t !a#nly d#d they all r"$ h#s handP "r all the &l""dy dr"%s that 'ushed "rth 1a#a(Earth) rece#!ed, and as the seas"ns $"!ed r"und she &are the str"n' Er#nyes and

the 'reat 1#'antes w#th 'lea$#n' ar$"ur ?%r"&a&ly the K"uretes, Curetes and the

3y$%ha# wh"$ they call *el#a# ?%r"&a&ly the ny$%hs wh" nursed eus all "!er the

&"undless earth+.

?3+F+ It #s /u#te tt#n' that the nurses and %r"tect"rs " the #nant eus were &"rn

r"$ the &l""d " the castrat#"n " Ouran"s, "r the '"d was dest#ned t" a!en'e

the#r ather &y de%"s#n' and #$%r#s"n#n' Kr"n"s+



%acc#ylides, Fragment &2 (<rom "=et=es on "#eogony) (trans. ambell, ol. *reek

+yric ) (*reek lyric &t# %..) ;

.r"$ the &l""d that ["wed r"$ the 'en#tals ?" Ouran"s, Sy three Er#nyes

(ur#es) were &"rn rst #n the earth, Te#se%h"ne, *e'a#ra and Alet" w#th the$P and

al"n' w#th the$ the "ur a$"us Telh#nes+.

?3+F+ the Telh#nes were "ten #dent#ed w#th the K"uretes, %r"tect"rs " the #nanteus+

*reek +yric nonymo!s, Fragment -& (<rom Hiolyt!s, 6e<!tation o< all t#e

Heresies) (*reek lyric %..) ;

.1e (Earth), say the 1rees, was the rst t" %r"duce $an, ha!#n' w"n that ne

%r#!#le'e, w#sh#n' t" &e $"ther n"t " senseless %lants n"r " unreas"n#n' &easts

&ut " a c#!#l#sed, '"d0l"!#n' creature+ Fut #t #s hard t" d#sc"!er, he says, whether

F"#"t#an Alal"$eneus "n the sh"re " the Ke%h#ss#an (Ce%h#s#an) lae was the rst

" $en t" a%%ear, "r # #t was the K"uretes Ida#" (Idaean Curetes)#, d#!#ne race, "r

the >hry'#an K"ry&antes (C"ry&antes) that the sun rst saw sh""t#n' u% tree0l#e+.

Diodor!s Sic!l!s, +ibrary o< History &. $&. 1 (trans. ld<at#er) (*reek #istorian 1st

%..) ;

.3#ne K"uretes (Curetes)+ S"$e wr#ters " $yths relate that these '"ds were &"rn "

the 1a#a (the Earth)+.

Strabo, *eogra#y 10. 3. 1- (trans. >ones) (*reek geogra#er 1st %.. to 1st

.D.) ;

.And the auth"r " >h"r"n#s s%eas " the K"uretes (Curetes) + + + as earth0&"rn

(gigantes)+.

id, 'etamor#oses 4. 22 9 (trans. 'elille) (6oman eic 1st %.. to 1st .D.) ;

.The Curetes, s%run' r"$ a shar% sh"wer ?" ra#n+.

?3+F+ O!#d #s %r"&a&ly descr#&#n' the#r &#rth r"$ the &l""dy sh"wer " ra#n wh#ch

ell t" the earth at the castrat#"n " Ouran"s the Sy+

onn!s, Dionysiaca 14. 23 9 (trans. 6o!se) (*reek eic &t# .D.) ;

.Datyl"# Ida#"# (Idaean Dactyls), dwellers "n a r"cy cra', earth&"rn K"ry&antes

(C"ry&antes), a 'enerat#"n wh#ch 'rew u% "r Rhe#a sel$ade "ut " the 'r"und #n

the "lden t#$e+.

II) SO3S O A3KHIALE

Anh#ale (Anch#ale) #s descr#&ed #n the rgona!tica as the $"ther " the Datyl"#+

S"$e c"$$entar#es h"we!er &el#e!e she #s Rhea, wh" #n her la&"ur w#th eus,

clutches h"ld " 1a#a the earth and %rays "r ass#stance+ In sy$%athy 1a#a &#rths a

clutch " ully0'r"wn ar$ed warr#"rs, the K"uretes0Datyl"#, t" %r"tect her and her

#nant+



olloni!s 6#odi!s, rgona!tica 1. 1122 9 (trans. 6ie!) (*reek eic 3rd %..) ;

.The $any Datyl"# Ida#"# (Idaean Dactyls) " Krete (Crete)+ They were &"rne #n the

D#ta#"n ca!e &y the 3y$%he Anh#ale as she clutched the earth " OaG"s ?#n Krete

w#th &"th her hands+.

I\) OTHER \ERSIO3S

Strabo, *eogra#y 10. 3. 1- (trans. >ones) (*reek geogra#er 1st %.. to 1st

.D.) ;

.urther, s"$e call the K"ry&antes (C"ry&antes) s"ns " Kr"n"s (Cr"nus)+.

HUMAN SONS OF THE DACTYLS & CURETES

The Da#$"nes Datyl"# "r K"uretes and the 3y$%ha# Heater#des were a%%arently

the %arents " the rst hundred $en t" #nha&#t Krete (Crete)+ These s"ns were als"

called K"uretes and Datyl"#+ The acc"unts are s"$ewhat c"nused, as anc#entauth"rs use "ne "r the "ther na$e t" alternat#!ely descr#&e da#$"n0athers and

$"rtal s"ns+

Hesiod, Fragments o< ?nkno@n osition $ (<rom Strabo) (trans. 8elyn/:#ite)

(*reek eic t# or 7t# %..) ;

.Hes#"d ?"r rather a w"r attr#&uted t" h#$ says that !e dau'hters were &"rn t"

Heater"s (Hecaterus) and the dau'hter " >h"r"neus, ]Fut " the$ were &"rn the

d#!#ne $"unta#n 3y$%ha# and the tr#&e " w"rthless, hel%less Satyr"# (Satyrs), and

the d#!#ne K"uretes (Curetes), s%"rt#!e dancers+^.

Diodor!s Sic!l!s, +ibrary o< History &. $&. 1 (trans. ld<at#er) (*reek #istorian 1st%..) ;

.?Early #nha&#tants " the #sland " Crete Ater the Datyl"# Ida#"# (Idaean Dactyls),

acc"rd#n' t" acc"unts we ha!e, there were n#ne K"uretes (Curetes)+ S"$e wr#ters "

$yths relate that these '"ds were &"rn " 1a#a (the Earth), &ut acc"rd#n' t" "thers,

they were descended r"$ the Datyl"# Ida#"#+.

Strabo, *eogra#y 10. 3. 22 (trans. >ones) (*reek geogra#er 1st %.. to 1st

.D.) ;

.And they ?s"$e wr#ters sus%ect that &"th the K"uretes (Curetes) and the

K"ry&antes (C"ry&antes) were "Vs%r#n' " the Datyl"# Ida#"# (Idaean Dactyls)P at

any rate, the rst hundred $en &"rn #n Krete (Crete) were called Ida#an Datyl"#,they say, and these were &"rn " n#ne K"uretes, "r each " these &e'"t ten ch#ldren

wh" were called Ida#an Datyl"#+.

Strabo, *eogra#y 10. 3. 1- ;

.S"$e call the K"uretes (Curetes) ]Kretes,^ and say that the Kretes were the rst

%e"%le t" d"n &ra-en ar$"ur #n Eu&"#a, and that "n th#s acc"unt they were als"



called ]Khal#d#ans^ (" the Fr"n-e)+. ?3+F+ Khal#d#ans $eans &"th ." Khal#s,. a

t"wn #n Eu&"#a, and ." the &r"n-e+.

CURETES PROTECTORS OF THE INFANT ZEUS

"#aletas, Fragment 10 (<rom Sc#oliast on indar) (trans. ambell, ol. *reek +yric

) (*reek lyric 7t# %..) ;

.The dance #n ar$"ur was rst #n!ented and danced &y the K"uretes (Curetes)+.

orinna, Fragment $&4 (trans. ambell, ol. *reek +yric ) (*reek lyric $t#

%..) ;

.The K"ure#tes (Curetes) h#d the h"ly &a&e " the '"ddess ?Rhea #n a ca!e w#th"ut

the n"wled'e " cr""ed0w#tted Kr"n"s (Cr"nus), when &lessed Rhea st"le h#$ and

w"n 'reat h"n"ur r"$ the #$$"rtals+.

8!riides, %acc#ae 120 9 (trans. ellacott) (*reek tragedy &t# %..) ;.O secret cha$&er the K"uretes (Curetes) new_ O h"ly ca!ern #n the Kretan

(Cretan) 'lade where eus was cradled, where "r "ur del#'ht the tr#%le0crested

K"ry&antes drew t#'ht the r"und dru$0s#n, t#ll #ts w#ld &eat $ade ra%tur"us rhyth$

t" the &reath#n' sweetness " >hry'#an [utes_ Then d#!#ne Rhea "und the dru$

c"uld '#!e her Facch#c a#rs c"$%leteness+.

se!do/ollodor!s, %ibliot#eca 1. 4/ & (trans. ldric#) (*reek myt#ogra#er 2nd

.D.) ;

.Rhea, when she was hea!y w#th eus, went "V t" Krete and 'a!e &#rth t" h#$ there

#n a ca!e "n *"unt D#te+ She %ut h#$ #n the care " &"th the K"uretes (Curetes)

and the 3y$%ha# Adraste#a and Ide, dau'hters " *el#sseus+ These 3y$%ha# nursedthe &a&y w#th the $#l " A$althe#a, wh#le the ar$ed K"uretes st""d 'uard "!er h#$

#n the ca!e, &an'#n' the#r s%ears a'a#nst the#r sh#elds t" %re!ent Kr"n"s (Cr"nus)

r"$ hear#n' the #nant^s !"#ce+.


.In the days when he ruled the T#tanes #n Oly$%"s and eus was st#ll a ch#ld, tended

#n the Kretan (Cretan) ca!e &y the K"uretes (Curetes) " Ida+.

allimac#!s, Hymn 1 to Ae!s 42 9 (trans. 'air) (*reek oet 3rd %..) ;

.Xhen the 3y$%he ?3eda, carry#n' thee, O ather eus ?#+e+ r"$ Arad#a where he

was &"rn t" &e handed "!er t" h#s %r"tect"rs and nurses #n Krete, t"ward Kn"s"s(Cn"ssus) + + + Fut thee, O eus, the c"$%an#"ns " Kyr&antes (Cyr&antes) t"" t"

the#r ar$s, e!en the D#ta#an *el#a# (D#ctaean *el#ae), and Adraste#a la#d thee t"

rest #n a cradle " '"ld, and th"u d#dst suc the r#ch teat " the she0'"at A$althe#a,

and theret" eat the sweet h"ney0c"$& + + + And lust#ly r"und thee danced the

K"uretes (Curetes) a war0dance, &eat#n' the#r ar$"ur, that Kr"n"s (Cr"nus) $#'ht

hear w#th h#s ears the d#n " the sh#eld, &ut n"t th#ne #nant n"#se+.



rat!s, #aenomena 27 9 (trans. 'air) (*reek astronomical oem 3rd %..) ;

.In "lden days he ?eus %layed as a ch#ld #n ra'rant D#t"n (D#cte), near the h#ll "

Ida, they set h#$ #n a ca!e and nurtured h#$ "r the s%ace " a year, what t#$e the

D#ta#"# K"uretes (Dactyl#an Curetes) were dece#!#n' Kr"n"s (Cr"nus)+.

Diodor!s Sic!l!s, +ibrary o< History &. $&. 1 (trans. ld<at#er) (*reek #istorian 1st%..) ;

.And we are t"ld that ?the K"uretes, Curetes, when Rhea, the $"ther " eus,

entrusted h#$ t" the$ un&en"wn t" Kr"n"s (Cr"nus) h#s ather, they t"" h#$

under the#r care and saw t" h#s nurture + + + The $yth the Kretans (Cretans) relate

runs l#e th#s when the K"uretes were y"un' $en, the T#tanes, as they are called,

were st#ll l#!#n'+ These T#tanes had the#r dwell#n' #n the land a&"ut Kn"s"s

(Cn"ssus)+.

Diodor!s Sic!l!s, +ibrary o< History &. $&. 1 ;

.The K"uretes (Curetes) als" #n!ented sw"rds and hel$ets and the war0dance, &y

$eans " wh#ch they ra#sed a 'reat alaru$ and dece#!ed Kr"n"s+.

Diodor!s Sic!l!s, +ibrary o< History &. 70. 1 ;

.Xhen she ?Rhea had '#!en &#rth t" eus, c"ncealed h#$ #n Ide, as #t #s called, and,

w#th"ut the n"wled'e " Kr"n"s (Cr"nus), entrusted the rear#n' " h#$ t" the

K"uretes (Curetes) " *t Ide (Ida)+ The K"uretes &"re h#$ "V t" a certa#n ca!e where

they 'a!e h#$ "!er t" the 3y$%ha# ?Ida and Adraste#a, w#th the c"$$and that

they sh"uld $#n#ster t" h#s e!ery need And the 3y$%ha# nurtured the ch#ld "n a

$#Gture " h"ney and $#l and 'a!e h#$ u%&r#n'#n' at the udder " the '"at wh#ch

was na$ed A$althe#a+

And $any e!#dences " the &#rth and u%&r#n'#n' " th#s '"d re$a#n t" th#s day "n

the #sland+ "r #nstance, when he was &e#n' carr#ed away, wh#le st#ll an #nant, &ythe K"uretes, they say that the u$&#l#cal c"rd (om#alos) ell r"$ h#$ near the

r#!er n"wn as Tr#t"n ?#n Krete, and that th#s s%"t has &een $ade sacred and has

&een called O$%hal"s ater that #nc#dent, wh#le #n l#e $anner the %la#n a&"ut #t #s

n"wn as O$%hale#"n+ And "n *"unt Ide, where the '"d was nurtured, &"t the ca!e

#n wh#ch he s%ent h#s days has &een $ade sacred t" h#$, and the $ead"ws a&"ut

#t, wh#ch l#e u%"n the r#d'es " the $"unta#n, ha!e #n l#e $anner &een c"nsecrated

t" h#$+ Fut he $"st ast"n#sh#n' " all that wh#ch the $yth relates has t" d" w#th the

&ees, and we sh"uld n"t "$#t t" $ent#"n #t The '"d, they say, w#sh#n' t" %reser!e

an #$$"rtal $e$"r#al " h#s cl"se ass"c#at#"n w#th the &ees, chan'ed the c"l"ur "

the$, $a#n' #t l#e c"%%er w#th the 'lea$ " '"ld, and s#nce the re'#"n lay at a!ery 'reat alt#tude, where erce w#nds &lew a&"ut #t and hea!y sn"ws ell, he $ade

the &ees #nsens#&le t" such th#n's and unaVected &y the$, s#nce they $ust ran'e

"!er the $"st w#ntry stretches+.

Diodor!s Sic!l!s, +ibrary o< History &. $0. 2 ;

.Th"se ?K"uretes, Curetes wh" had rece#!ed eus r"$ h#s $"ther Rhea and had

nurtured h#$ #n the $"unta#ns " Ide #n Krete (Ida #n Crete)+.




.D.) ;

.K"uretes (Curetes), y"un' $en wh" eGecuted $"!e$ents #n ar$"ur, acc"$%an#ed

&y danc#n', as they set "rth the $yth#cal st"ry " the &#rth " eusP #n th#s they

#ntr"duced Kr"n"s (Cr"nus) as accust"$ed t" swall"w h#s ch#ldren #$$ed#ately ater

the#r &#rth, and Rhea as try#n' t" ee% her tra!a#l secret and, when the ch#ld was&"rn, t" 'et #t "ut " the way and sa!e #ts l#e &y e!ery $eans #n her %"werP and t"

acc"$%l#sh th#s #t #s sa#d that she t"" as hel%ers the K"uretes, wh", &y surr"und#n'

the '"ddess w#th ta$&"ur#nes and s#$#lar n"#sy #nstru$ents and w#th war0dance

and u%r"ar, were su%%"sed t" str#e terr"r #nt" Kr"n"s and w#th"ut h#s n"wled'e t"

steal h#s ch#ld awayP and that, acc"rd#n' t" trad#t#"n, eus was actually reared &y

the$ w#th the sa$e d#l#'enceP c"nse/uently the K"uretes, e#ther &ecause, &e#n'

y"un', that #s ]y"uths,^ they %er"r$ed th#s ser!#ce, "r &ecause they ]reared^ eus

]#n h#s y"uth^ ("r &"th eG%lanat#"ns are '#!en), were acc"rded th#s a%%ellat#"n+.

Strabo, *eogra#y 10. 3. 1- ;

.In the Kretan (Cretan) acc"unts the K"uretes (Curetes) are called ]rearers " eus,^and ]%r"tect"rs " eus,^ ha!#n' &een su$$"ned r"$ >hry'#a t" Krete &y Rhea+

S"$e say that, " the n#ne Telh#nes wh" l#!ed #n Rh"des, th"se wh" acc"$%an#ed

Rhea t" Krete and ]reared^ eus Z#n h#s y"uthZ were na$ed K"uretes+.

a!sanias, Descrition o< *reece 4. 33. 1 (trans. >ones) (*reek traelog!e 2nd

.D.) ;

.The *essen#ans ha!e the#r share #n the st"ry "r they t"" say that the '"d ?the

#nant eus was &r"u'ht u% a$"n' the$ and that h#s nurses were Ith"$e and

3eda + + + These 3y$%ha# are sa#d t" ha!e &athed eus here, ater he was st"len &y

the K"uretes (Curetes) "w#n' t" the dan'er that threatened r"$ h#s ather, and #t #s

sa#d that #t ?#+e+ the "unta#n Kle%sydra "n *t Ith"$e #n *essen#a has #ts na$e r"$

the K"uretesZ thet+.

a!sanias, Descrition o< *reece &. 7. $ (trans. >ones) (*reek traelog!e 2nd .D.)

;

.Xhen eus was &"rn, Rhea entrusted the 'uard#ansh#% " her s"n t" the Datyl"#

(Dactyls) " Ida, wh" are the sa$e as th"se called K"uretes (Curetes)+.

ian, ynegetica 3. 7 (trans. 'air) (*reek oet 3rd .D.) ;

.The K"uretes (Curetes) were the nurses " the #nant eus, the $#'hty s"n "

Kr"n"s (Cr"nus), what t#$e Rhea c"ncealed h#s &#rth and carr#ed away the newly0

&"rn ch#ld r"$ Kr"n"s, h#s s#re #$%laca&le, and %laced h#$ #n the !ales " Krete

(Crete)+ And when the s"n " Ouran"s &eheld the lusty y"un' ch#ld he trans"r$ed

the rst 'l"r#"us 'uard#ans " eus and #n !en'eance $ade the K"uretes w#ld

&easts+ And s#nce &y the de!#s#n' " the '"d Kr"n"s eGchan'ed the#r hu$an sha%e

and %ut u%"n the$ the "r$ " L#"ns, thence"rth &y the &""n " eus they 'reatly

l"rd #t "!er the w#ld &easts wh#ch dwell u%"n the h#lls, and under the y"e they draw

the terr#&le sw#t car " Rhea wh" l#'htens the %an's " &#rth+.



se!do/Hygin!s, Fab!lae 13- (trans. *rant) (6oman myt#ogra#er 2nd .D.) ;

.Ater O%#s ?Rhea had &"rne "!e ?eus &y Saturn ?Kr"n"s, un" ?Hera ased her

t" '#!e h#$ t" her, s#nce Saturn and cast Orcus ?Ha#des under Tartarus, and

3e%tunus ?>"se#d"n under the sea, &ecause he new that h#s s"n w"uld r"& h#$ "

the #n'd"$+ Xhen he had ased O%#s "r what she had &"rne, #n "rder t" de!"ur #t,

O%#s sh"wed h#$ a st"ne wra%%ed u% l#e a &a&yP Saturnus ?Kr"n"s de!"ured #t+Xhen he real#-ed what he had d"ne, he started t" hunt "r "!e thr"u'h"ut the

earth+ un" ?Hera, h"we!er, t"" "!e ?eus t" the #sland " Crete, and A$althea,

the ch#ld^s nurse, hun' h#$ #n a cradle r"$ a tree, s" that he c"uld &e "und ne#ther

#n hea!en n"r "n earth n"r #n the sea+ And lest the cr#es " the &a&y &e heard, she

su$$"ned y"uths and 'a!e the$ s$all &ra-en sh#elds and s%ears, and &ade the$

'" ar"und the tree $a#n' a n"#se+ In 1ree they are called CuretesP "thers call

the$ C"ry&antesP these #n Italy, h"we!er are called Lares+.

se!do/Hygin!s, Fab!lae 20 ;

.They ?the Ar'"nauts #n the r#tes " the *yster#es " Sa$"thrae se#-ed sh#elds and

s%ears, and d#s%ersed the$ &y the n"#se, ater the $anner " the Curetes+.

id, Fasti 4. 207 9 (trans.%oyle) (6oman oetry 1st %.. to 1st .D.) ;

.Xhy the 1reat 1"ddess ?Rhea0Ky&ele l"!es #ncessant d#n + + + ?Xhen "!e ?eus

was &"rn ?t" Rhea a st"ne, c"ncealed #n cl"th, settled #n the '"dZs ?Kr"n"sZ 'ulletP

s" the ather was ated t" &e tr#ced+ "r a l"n' t#$e stee% Ida &""$s #ts clan'#n'

n"#se s" the w"rdless #nant $ay wa#l saely+ Sh#elds "r e$%ty hel$ets are %"unded

w#th st#cs, the CuretesZ "r C"ry&antesZ tas+ The truth h#d+ The anc#ent e!entZs

c"%#ed t"day her ac"lytes shae &rass and ru$&l#n' h#des+ They ha$$er cy$&als,

n"t hel$ets, and dru$s, n"t sh#eldsP the [ute $aes >hry'#an tunes as &e"re+.

irgil, *eorgics 4. 14- 9 (trans. Fairclo!g#) (6oman b!colic 1st %..) ;.`ual#t#es wh#ch "!e ?eus h#$sel has '#!en &ees, I w#ll un"ld00e!en the reward

"r wh#ch they "ll"wed the tuneul s"unds and clash#n' &r"n-es " the Curetes, and

ed the #n' " hea!en w#th#n the ca!e " D#cte+.

irgil, *eorgics 4. $2 9 ;

.Scatter the scents I %rescr#&e ?t" attract &ees t" a $an0$ade h#!e00&ru#sed &al$,

and the h"neyw"rtZs l"wly her&P ra#se a t#nl#n' s"und, and shae the *#'hty

*"therZs cy$&als r"und a&"ut ?#+e+ l#e the clash#n' " the K"uretes+ O the$sel!es

they settle "n the scented rest#n' %lacesP " the$sel!es, ater the#r w"nt, w#ll h#de

ar w#th#n the#r cradl#n' cells+.

liny t#e 8lder, at!ral History 7. 204 (trans. 6ack#am) (6oman encycloedia 1st

.D.) ;

.?On #n!ent#"ns The Curetes tau'ht danc#n' #n ar$"ur, >yrrhus the >yrrh#c danceP

&"th " these were #n Crete+.

Stati!s, "#ebaid 4. 72 9 (trans. 'o=ley) (6oman eic 1st .D.) ;

.The Ferecynt#an $"ther ?Rhea, wh#le she &#ds the Curetes lea% #n eGc#ted dance



ar"und the #nant Thunderer ?eusP the#r cy$&als clash #n e$ul"us ren-y, &ut

?*"unt Ide res"unds w#th h#s l"ud wa#l#n's+.

onn!s, Dionysiaca . 17 9 (trans. 6o!se) (*reek eic &t# .D.) ;

.3"w Hera let the sh#eld&esw#n'led ca!e " the D#ta#an r"c ?#n Krete where the

K"uretes danced w#th sw#n'#n' sh#elds and lances+.

onn!s, Dionysiaca 14. 23 9 ;

.The Ida#an Datyl"# (Idaean Dactyls), dwellers "n a r"cy cra', earth&"rn

K"ry&antes (C"ry&antes), a 'enerat#"n wh#ch 'rew u% "r Rhe#a sel$ade "ut " the

'r"und #n the "lden t#$e+ These had surr"unded eus a new&"rn &a&e #n the ca!ern

wh#ch "stered h#s &reed#n', and danced a&"ut h#$ sh#eld #n hand, the dece#!ers,

ra#s#n' w#ld s"n's wh#ch ech"ed a$"n' the r"cs and $addened the a#r00the n"#se

" the clan'#n' &rass res"unded #n the ears " Kr"n"s (Cr"nus) h#'h a$"n' the

cl"uds, and c"ncealed the #nancy " Kr"n#"n ?eus w#th dru$$#n's+.

onn!s, Dionysiaca 2. 2&2 9 ;

.The %yrrh#c dance ?" the K"uretes ra#sed a n"#se #n the ears " Kr"n"s (Cr"nus),

and clan'ed sw"rd "n sh#eld "n *"unt Ida, and ran' "ut a !al#ant d#n t" dece#!e the

ene$y, as he screened the stealthy nurture " 'r"w#n' eus + + + ?The K"urete

A$"n h"ld#n' K"ry&ant#c sh#eld, wh#ch had "ten held #n #ts h"ll"w &a&y eus

aslee% a$"n' the $"unta#ns yes, a l#ttle ca!e "nce was the h"$e " eus, where

the sacred '"at ?A$althe#a %layed the nurse t" h#$ w#th her $#ly udder "r a

$aesh#t, and cle!erly let h#$ suc the stran'e $#l, when the n"#se " shaen

sh#elds res"unded &eaten "n the &ac w#th tu$&l#n' steel t" h#de the l#ttle ch#ld w#th

the#r clan'#n'+ The#r hel% all"wed Rhe#a t" wra% u% that st"ne " dece#t, and 'a!e #t

t" Kr"n"s "r a $eal #n %lace " Kr"n#des ?eus + + +

*#$as + + + sw#n'#n' a ca%er#n' sw"rd, the dancer0at0ar$s s#%%#n' #n dead earnestw#th n"wl#n' lea%sP as "nce the %yrrh#c dance ra#sed a n"#se #n the ears " Kr"n"s,

and clan'ed sw"rd "n sh#eld "n *"unt Ida, and ran' "ut a !al#ant d#n t" dece#!e the

ene$y, as he screened the stealthy nurture " 'r"w#n' eus + + + A$"n w#th

&r#ll#ant hel$et $"!ed h#s restless c#rcl#n' eet #n n"w#n' lea%s+ He "u'ht

unshaea&le l#e the ha$$er0&eaten an!#l " h#s na$e, h"ld#n' K"ry&ant#c sh#eld,

wh#ch had "ten held #n #ts h"ll"w &a&y eus aslee% a$"n' the $"unta#ns yes, a

l#ttle ca!e "nce was the h"$e " eus, where the sacred '"at ?A$althe#a %layed

the nurse t" h#$ w#th her $#ly udder "r a $aesh#t, and cle!erly let h#$ suc the

stran'e $#l, when the n"#se " shaen sh#elds res"unded &eaten "n the &ac w#th

tu$&l#n' steel t" h#de the l#ttle ch#ld w#th the#r clan'#n'+ The#r hel% all"wed Rhe#a t"wra% u% that st"ne " dece#t, and 'a!e #t t" Kr"n"s "r a $eal #n %lace " Kr"n#des

?eus+.

onn!s, Dionysiaca 4$. 14 9 ;

.The ca!e #n the r"c " D#te w#th #ts [ash#n' hel$ets, as the K"ry&antes

?K"uretes t"", where l#ttle eus used t" %lay, when he suced the n"ur#sh#n' %a% "

'"at A$althe#a and 'rew str"n' #n s%#r#t, &ut ne!er dran Rhe#aZs $#l+.



DACTYLS INVENTORS OF SMELTING & METAL-WORKING

Homerica, "#e daean Dactyls Fragment 1 (<rom lement, Stromateis 1. 1$. 7&)

(trans. 8elyn/:#ite) (*reek eic t# or 7t# %..) ;

.Kel$#s (Cel$#s), a'a#n, and Da$na$eneus, the rst " the Datyl"# Ida#"# (Idaean

Dactyls), d#sc"!ered #r"n #n Ky%r"s (Cy%rus)P &ut &r"n-e0s$elt#n' was d#sc"!ered &y

Delas, an"ther Ida#an, th"u'ht Hes#"d calls h#$ Sythes+.

Homerica, "#e daean Dactyls Frag 1 (<rom liny, at!ral History 7. &$, 1-7) ;

.Hes#"d says that th"se wh" are called the Datyl"# Ida#"# (Idaean Dactyls) tau'ht

the s$elt#n' and te$%er#n' " #r"n #n Krete (Crete) ?"n *"unt Ida+.

allimac#!s, Fragment 10& (<rom 8!sebi!s rae. 8. 3.) (trans. "ryanis) (*reek

oet 3rd %..) ;

.3"t yet the %"l#shed w"r " Sel$#s ?the Datyl"s #n!ent"r " w"r#n' &r"n-e

wert th"u ?the cult " statue " Athena " L#nd"s #n Rh"des, &ut st#ll acc"rd#n' t"anc#ent cust"$ "nly a &"ard un%"l#shed &y the car!ers n#e ?a %r#$#t#!e w""den

statue+.

liny t#e 8lder, at!ral History 7. 1-7 (trans. 6ack#am) (6oman encycloedia 1st

.D.) ;

?On #n!ent#"ns He wh" sh"wed h"w t" $elt and w"r c"%%er, The"%hrastus

?1ree %h#l"s"%her Cth0rd F+C+ h"lds that #t was the >hry'#an Delas + + + The

"r'#n' " #r"n Hes#"d ascr#&es t" the Dactyl# " Ida #n Crete+.

DACTYLS FOUNDERS OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES

Diodor!s Sic!l!s, +ibrary o< History &. $4. 3 (trans. ld<at#er) (*reek #istorian 1st

%..) ;

.And wr#ters tell us that "ne " the$ ?the Datyl"#, Dactyls was na$ed Herales,

and eGcell#n' as he d#d #n a$e, he esta&l#shed the Oly$%#c 1a$es, and that the

$en " a later %er#"d th"u'ht, &ecause the na$e was the sa$e, that #t was the s"n

" Al$ene ?#+e+ the Herales " the Twel!e La&"urs wh" had "unded the #nst#tut#"n

" the Oly$%#c 1a$es+ And e!#dences " th#s, they tell us, are "und #n the act that

$any w"$en e!en t" th#s day tae the#r #ncantat#"ns r"$ th#s '"d and $ae

a$ulets #n h#s na$e, "n the 'r"und that he was a w#-ard and %ract#sed the arts "#n#t#at"ry r#tesP &ut they add that these th#n's were #ndeed !ery ar re$"!ed r"$

the ha&#ts "hte Herales wh" was &"rn " Al$ene+.

Strabo, *eogra#y . 3. 30 (trans. >ones) (*reek geogra#er 1st %.. to 1st

.D.) ;

.Xhat #s $"re, the Oly$%#an 1a$es are an #n!ent#"n " the#rs ?the Datyl"#,

DactylsP and #t was they wh" cele&rated the rst Oly$%#ads, "r "ne sh"uld



d#sre'ard the anc#ent st"r#es &"th " the "und#n' " the te$%le and " the

esta&l#sh$ent " the 'a$es00s"$e alle'#n' that #t was Herales, "ne " the Ida#an

Datyl"#, wh" was the "r#'#nat"r " &"th, and "thers, that #t was Herales the s"n "

Al$ene and eus, wh" als" was the rst t" c"ntend #n the 'a$es and w#n the

!#ct"ryP "r such st"r#es are t"ld #n $any ways, and n"t $uch a#th #s t" &e %ut #n

the$+.

a!sanias, Descrition o< *reece &. 7. $ / 10 (trans. >ones) (*reek traelog!e 2nd

.D.) ;

.As "r the Oly$%#c 1a$es, the $"st learned ant#/uar#ans " El#s say that Kr"n"s

was the rst #n' " hea!en, and that #n h#s h"n"ur a te$%le was &u#lt #n Oly$%#a &y

the $an " that a'e, wh" were na$ed the 1"lden Race+ Xhen eus was &"rn, Rhea

entrusted the 'uard#ansh#% " her s"n t" the Datyl"# (Dactyls) " Ida, wh" are the

sa$e as th"se called K"uretes (Curetes)+ They ca$e r"$ Kretan Ida00Herales

(Heracles), >a#"na#"s (>ae"naeus), E%#$edes, Ias#"s (Ias#us) and Idas+ Herales

&e#n' the eldest, $atched h#s &r"thers, as a 'a$e, #n a runn#n'0race, and cr"wned

the w#nner w#th a &ranch " w#ld "l#!e, " wh#ch they had such a c"%#"us su%%ly thatthey sle%t "n hea%s " #ts lea!es wh#le st#ll 'reen+ It #s sa#d t" ha!e &een #ntr"duced

#nt" 1reece &y Herales r"$ the land " the Hy%er&"reans, $en l#!#n' &ey"nd the

h"$e " F"reas (the 3"rth X#nd) + + + Herales " Ida, there"re, has the re%utat#"n

" &e#n' the rst t" ha!e held, "n the "ccas#"n I $ent#"ned, the 'a$es, and t" ha!e

called the$ Oy$%#c+ S" he esta&l#shed the cust"$ " h"ld#n' the$ e!ery th year,,

&ecause he and h#s &r"thers were !e #n nu$&er+

3"w s"$e say that eus wrestled here w#th Kr"n"s (Cr"nus) h#$sel "r the thr"ne,

wh#le "thers say that he held the 'a$es #n h"n"ur " h#s !#ct"ry "!er Kr"n"s+ The

rec"rd " !#ct"rs #nclude A%"ll"n, wh" "utran Her$es and &eat Ares at &"G#n' + + +

Later "n there ca$e r"$ Krete (Crete) Kly$en"s (Cly$enus), the s"n " Kardys(Cardys), a&"ut ty years ater the [""d ca$e u%"n the 1rees #n the t#$e "

Deual#"n+ He was descended r"$ Herales " IdaP he held the 'a$es at Oly$%#a

and set u% an latar #n h"n"ur " Herales, h#s ancest"r, and the "ther K"uretes

(Curetes), '#!#n' t" Herales the surna$e " >arastates (Ass#stant)+.

a!sanias, Descrition o< *reece &. 13. ;

.The altar " Oly$%#c eus ?at Oly$%#a + + + S"$e say #t was &u#lt &y Herales Ida#"s

?Idaean Heracles, the Dactyl+.

a!sanias, Descrition o< *reece . 2. 2 ;

.The Oly$%#c 'a$es + + + are traced &ac t" a t#$e earl#er than the hu$an race, thest"ry &e#n' that Kr"n"s (Cr"nus) and eus wrestled there, and that the K"uretes

?Datyl"# were the rst t" race at Oly$%#a+.

S!idas s.. llos #o!tos Herakles (trans. S!da n +ine) (%y=antine *reek leBicon

10t# .D.) ;

. llos #o!tos Herakles (Th#s $an #s an"ther Herales) A%%l#ed t" th"se

acc"$%l#sh#n' s"$eth#n' &y "rce+ S"$eth#n' %r"!er&#al sa#d rst a&"ut Theseus "r



a&"ut the Herales ?wh" was "ne " the Datyl"s Ida#"# (Idaean Dactyls) "r a&"ut

the s"n " Al$ene &ecause " the "lder ?"nes " th#s na$e+.

METAMORPHOSIS OF THE CURETES & DACTYLS

S"$e say the K"uretes were $eta$"r%h"sed #nt" l#"ns &y Kr"n"s as %un#sh$ent "r

hel%#n' Rhea+ In an"ther st"ry the Datyl"s Kel$#s was sa#d t" ha!e &een turned t"

st"ne+

ian, ynegetica 3. 7 (trans. 'air) (*reek oet 3rd .D.) ;

.Xhen ?Kr"n"s, Cr"nus the s"n " Ouran"s &eheld the lusty y"un' ch#ld ?eus he

trans"r$ed the rst 'l"r#"us 'uard#ans " eus and #n !en'eance $ade the

K"uretes w#ld &easts+ And s#nce &y the de!#s#n' " the '"d Kr"n"s eGchan'ed the#r

hu$an sha%e and %ut u%"n the$ the "r$ " L#"ns, thence"rth &y the &""n " eus

they 'reatly l"rd #t "!er the w#ld &easts wh#ch dwell u%"n the h#lls, and under the

y"e they draw the terr#&le sw#t car " Rhea wh" l#'htens the %an's " &#rth+.

id, 'etamor#oses 4. 21 9 (trans. 'elille) (6oman eic 1st %.. to 1st

.D.) ;

.The tale " Cel$#s hard 'ran#te n"w &ut "nce the truest r#end " #nant "!e

?eus+.

CURETES & DACTYLS MISCELLANY

I) CURETES AD\ISERS O KI31 *I3OSse!do/ollodor!s, %ibliot#eca 3. 1 (trans. ldric#) (*reek myt#ogra#er 2nd

.D.) ;

.*#n"sZs s"n 1lau"s (1laucus), wh#le he was st#ll a t" the chased a $"use and

landed #n a !at " h"ney, where he d#ed+ Xhen he a#led t" a%%ear, *#n"s launched

a !ast search "r h#$, and s"u'ht d#!#nat#"ns c"ncern#n' h#s wherea&"uts+ The

K"uretes (Curetes) t"ld *#n"s that he "wned a tr#0c"l"red c"w #n h#s herds, and that

the $an wh" c"uld $"st accurately descr#&e the c"ws c"l"ur w"uld als" '#!e h#$

&ac h#s s"n al#!e+.

?3+F+ The K"uretes, es%ec#ally *el#sseus the H"ney0*an, were cl"sely ass"c#ated

w#th h"ney+

II) CURETES THE KID3A>>I31 O E>A>HUS

Th#s st"ry was an atte$%t t" translate the E'y%t#an st"ry " Os#r#s and Set #nt"

1ree $yth"l"'y+ The T#tanes rather than the '""d K"uretes are usually the !#ll#ans+

The K"uretes #n th#s st"ry $#'ht als" here ha!e &e #dent#ed w#th the $al#'nant

Telh#nes+



se!do/ollodor!s, %ibliot#eca 2. & / - (trans. ldric#) (*reek myt#ogra#er 2nd

.D.) ;

.Hera ased the K"uretes (Curetes) t" #dna% the ch#ld ?E%a%h"s, wh#ch they d#d+

Xhen eus "und th#s "ut, he slew the K"uretes, wh#le I" set "ut t" nd the#r &a&y+.

III) CORYFA3TES >ROTECTORS O DIO3YSUS

See the sect#"n .Curetes, C"ry&antes Dactyls #n 3"nnus. &el"w+

I\) DACTYLS I3\E3TORS O *USIC

l!tarc#, n '!sic (trans. ambell, ol. *reek +yric ) (*reek #istorian 2nd to 3rd

.D.) ;

.Oly$%"s was the rst t" #ntr"duce #nstru$ental $us#c t" 1reece al"n' w#th the

Datyl"# Ida#"# (Idaean Dactyls)+.

\) DACTYLS O RHEA0CYFELE

These da#$"nes are $"re %r"%erly the >hry'#an K"ry&antes " the As#at#c Ky&ele+


.Then, cr"wned w#th "a0lea!ed, they ?the Ar'"nauts "n *"unt D#ndy$"n &e'an

the sacr#c#al r#tes, #n!"#n' the *"ther D#ndy$ene ?Rhea0Ky&ele, $"st w"rsh#%ul,

wh" dwells #n >hry'#aP and w#th her, T#t#as and Kyllen"s+ "r these tw" are s#n'led

"ut as d#s%ensers " d""$ and assess"rs t" the *"ther Ida#e ?Rhea0Ky&ele r"$ the

$any Datyl"# Ida#"# " Krete (Idaean Dactyls " Crete)+ They were &"rne #n the

D#ta#"n ca!e &y the 3y$%he Anh#ale (Anch#ale) as she clutched the earth "

OaG"s ?#n Crete w#th &"th her hands+.

CURETES, DACTYLS & CORYBANTES (FROM DIODORUS)

I) DACTYLS O >HRY1IA CRETE

Diodor!s Sic!l!s, +ibrary o< History &. $4. 3 / & (trans. ld<at#er) (*reek #istorian

1st %..) ;

.The rst " these '"ds ?nat#!e t" Krete " wh"$ trad#t#"n has let a rec"rd $ade

the#r h"$e #n Krete (Crete) a&"ut *"unt Ide (Ida) and were called Datyl"# Ida#"#

(Idaean Dactyls)+ These, acc"rd#n' t" "ne trad#t#"n, were "ne hundred #n nu$&er,

&ut "thers say that there were "nly ten t" rece#!e th#s na$e, c"rres%"nd#n' #nnu$&er t" the n'ers (daktyloi) " the hands+

Fut s"$e h#st"r#ans, and E%h"r"s #s "ne " the$, rec"rd that the Datyl"# Ida#"#

were #n act &"rn "n the *t Ide wh#ch #s #n >hry'#a and %assed "!er t" Eur"%e

t"'ether w#th *y'd"nP and s#nce they were w#-ards (gonta), they %ract#sed char$s

and #n#t#at"ry r#tes and $yster#es, and #n the c"urse " a s"2"urn #n Sa$"thrae they

a$a-ed the nat#!es " that #sland n"t a l#ttle &y the#r s#ll #n such $atters+ And #t



was at th#s t#$e, we are urther t"ld, that Or%heus, wh" was end"wed w#th an

eGce%t#"nal '#t " %"esy and s"n', als" &eca$e a %u%#l " the#rs, and he was

su&se/uently the rst t" #ntr"duce #n#t#at"ry r#tes and *yster#es t" the 1rees+

H"we!er th#s $ay &e, the Datyl"# Ida#"# " Krete, s" trad#t#"n tells us, d#sc"!ered

&"th the use " re and what the $etals c"%%er and #r"n are, as well as the $eans

" w"r#n' the$, th#s &e#n' d"ne #n the terr#t"ry " the c#ty " A%tera at Fereynth"s?#n Eastern *ys#a, as #t #s calledP and s#nce they were l""ed u%"n as the "r#'#nat"rs

" 'reat &less#n's "r the race " $en, they were acc"rded #$$"rtal h"n"urs+

?c"nt+

II) DACTYLS OU3DERS O THE OLY*>IC 1A*ES

Diodor!s Sic!l!s, +ibrary o< History &. $4. $ ;

.And wr#ters tell us that "ne " the$ ?the Datyl"#, Dactyls was na$ed Herales,

and eGcell#n' as he d#d #n a$e, he esta&l#shed the Oly$%#c 1a$es, and that the

$en " a later %er#"d th"u'ht, &ecause the na$e was the sa$e, that #t was the s"n

" Al$ene ?#+e+ the Herales " the Twel!e La&"urs wh" had "unded the #nst#tut#"n" the Oly$%#c 1a$es+ And e!#dences " th#s, they tell us, are "und #n the act that

$any w"$en e!en t" th#s day tae the#r #ncantat#"ns r"$ th#s '"d and $ae

a$ulets #n h#s na$e, "n the 'r"und that he was a w#-ard and %ract#sed the arts "

#n#t#at"ry r#tesP &ut they add that these th#n's were #ndeed !ery ar re$"!ed r"$

the ha&#ts "hte Herales wh" was &"rn " Al$ene+ ?c"nt

III) CURETES O CRETE

Diodor!s Sic!l!s, +ibrary o< History &. $&. 1 / $$. 1 ;

.Ater the Datyl"# Ida#"# (Idaean Dactyls), acc"rd#n' t" acc"unts we ha!e, there

were n#ne K"uretes (Curetes)+ S"$e wr#ters " $yths relate that these '"ds were&"rn " 1a#a (the Earth), &ut acc"rd#n' t" "thers, they were descended r"$ the

Datyl"# Ida#"#+ The#r h"$e they $ade #n $"unta#n"us %laces wh#ch were th#cly

w""ded and ull " ra!#nes, and wh#ch, #n a w"rd, %r"!#ded a natural shelter and

c"!era'e, s#nce #t had n"t yet &een d#sc"!ered h"w t" &u#ld h"uses+ And s#nce these

K"uretes eGcelled #n w#sd"$ they d#sc"!ered $any th#n's wh#ch are " use t" $en

'enerallyP s", "r #nstance, they were the rst t" 'ather shee% #nt" ["cs, t"

d"$est#cate the se!eral "ther #nds " an#$als wh#ch $en atten, and t" d#sc"!er

the $a#n' " h"ney+ In the sa$e $anner they #ntr"duced the art " sh""t#n' w#th

the &"w and the ways " hunt#n' an#$als, and they sh"wed $an#nd h"w t" l#!e

and ass"c#ate t"'ether #n a c"$$"n l#e, and they were the "r#'#nat"rs " c"nc"rd

and, s" t" s%ea, " "rderly &eha!#"ur+ The K"uretes als" #n!ented sw"rds and

hel$ets and the war0dance, &y $eans " wh#ch they ra#sed a 'reat alaru$ and

dece#!ed Kr"n"s (Cr"nus)+ And we are t"ld that, when Rhea, the $"ther " eus,

entrusted h#$ t" the$ un&en"wn t" Kr"n"s h#s ather, they t"" h#$ under the#r

care and saw t" h#s nurture + + +

The $yth the Kretans relate runs l#e th#s when the K"uretes were y"un' $en, the



T#tanes, as they are called, were st#ll l#!#n'+ These T#tanes had the#r dwell#n' #n the

land a&"ut Kn"s"s (Cn"ssus)+.


.Xhen she ?Rhea had '#!en &#rth t" eus, c"ncealed h#$ #n Ide, as #t #s called, and,

w#th"ut the n"wled'e " Kr"n"s (Cr"nus), entrusted the rear#n' " h#$ t" theK"uretes (Curetes) " *"unt Ide (Ida)+ The K"uretes &"re h#$ "V t" a certa#n ca!e

where they 'a!e h#$ "!er t" the 3y$%ha#, w#th the c"$$and that they sh"uld

$#n#ster t" h#s e!ery need And the 3y$%ha# nurtured the ch#ld "n a $#Gture "

h"ney and $#l and 'a!e h#$ u%&r#n'#n' at the udder " the '"at wh#ch was na$ed

A$althe#a+ And $any e!#dences " the &#rth and u%&r#n'#n' " th#s '"d re$a#n t"

th#s day "n the #sland+ "r #nstance, when he was &e#n' carr#ed away, wh#le st#ll an

#nant, &y the K"uretes, they say that the u$&#l#cal c"rd (om#alos) ell r"$ h#$

near the r#!er n"wn as Tr#t"n ?#n Krete, Crete, and that th#s s%"t has &een $ade

sacred and has &een called O$%hal"s ater that #nc#dent, wh#le #n l#e $anner the

%la#n a&"ut #t #s n"wn as O$%hale#"n+.

I\) CURETES O THE CARIA3 CHERSO33ESE

Diodor!s Sic!l!s, +ibrary o< History &. $0. 2 ;

.3"t l"n' ater Kherr"ness"s had ruled ?the Chers"nnese "%%"s#te Rh"des, !e

K"uretes (Curetes) %assed "!er t" #t r"$ Krete (Crete), and these were

descendants " ?"r %erha%s the sa$e as th"se wh" had rece#!ed eus r"$ h#s

$"ther Rhea and had nurtured h#$ #n the $"unta#ns " Ide #n Krete, And sa#l#n' t"

the Kherr"nes"s w#th a n"ta&le eG%ed#t#"n they eG%elled the Kar#ans wh" dwelt

there, and settl#n' d"wn #n the land d#!#ded #t #nt" !e %arts, each " the$ "und#n'

a c#ty wh#ch he na$ed ater h#$sel + + +

Tr#"%as, "ne " the s"ns " Hel#"s (the Sun) and Rh"d"s, wh" was a u'#t#!e &ecause" the $urder " h#s &r"ther Tena'es, ca$e t" the Kherr"nes"s+ And ater he had

&een %ur#ed there " the $urder &y ?the K"urete *el#sseus the #n, he sa#led t"

Thessal#a+.

\) ORI1I3 O THE >HRY1IA3 CORYFA3TES

The "r'#ast#c attendants and hu$an de!"tees " Rhea0Ky&ele were na$ed

K"ry&antes ater K"ry&as s"n " Ky&ele, acc"rd#n' t" D#"d"rus S#culus+


.Ias#"n $arr#ed Ky&ele (Cy&ele) and &e'at K"ry&as (C"ry&as)+ And ater Ias#"n had&een re$"!ed #nt" the c#rcle " the '"ds, Dardan"s and Ky&ele and K"ry&as

c"n!eyed t" As#a the sacred r#tes " the *"ther " the 1"ds and re$"!ed w#th the$

t" >hry'#a+ Thereu%"n Ky&ele, 2"#n#n' hersel t" the rst Oly$%"s ?*"unta#n #n

>hry'#a, &e'at Ale and called the '"ddess Ky&ele ater herselP and K"ry&as 'a!e

the na$e " K"ry&antes t" all wh", #n cele&rat#n' the r#tes " h#s $"ther, acted l#e

$en %"ssessed, and $arr#ed The&e, the dau'hter " K#l#G+ In l#e $anner he als"

transerred the [ute r"$ Sa$"thrae t" >hry'#a and t" Lyrness"s the lyre wh#ch



Her$es 'a!e and wh#ch at a later t#$e Ah#lleus (Ach#lles) t"" "r h#$sel when he

saced that c#ty+.

CURETES, DACTYLS & CORYBANTES (FROM STRABO)

I) I3TRODUCTIO3 TO THE CURETES


.D.) ;

.?Q The acc"unts ?" the Da#$"nes called K"uretes, Curetes wh#ch are $"re

re$"tely related, h"we!er, t" the %resent su&2ect ?the K"uretes tr#&e " A#t"l#a, &ut

are wr"n'ly, "n acc"unt " the #dent#ty " the na$es, &r"u'ht #nt" the sa$e

c"nnect#"n &y the h#st"r#ans00I $ean th"se acc"unts wh#ch, alth"u'h they are

called!retan History and History o< t#e !retes, 2ust as # they were the h#st"ry "

th"se K"uretes ?the tr#&e wh" l#!ed #n A#t"l#a and Aarnan#a, n"t "nly are d#Verent

r"$ that h#st"ry, &ut are $"re l#e the acc"unts " the Satyr"# (Satyrs), S#len"#(S#len#), Faha# (Facchae), and T#tyr"#P "r the K"uretes, l#e these, are called

Da#$"nes "r $#n#sters " '"ds &y th"se wh" ha!e handed d"wn t" us the Kretan

a(Cretan) nd the >hry'#an trad#t#"ns, wh#ch are #nterw"!en w#th certa#n sacred r#tes,

s"$e $yst#cal, the "thers c"nnected #n %art w#th the rear#n' " the ch#ld eus #n

Krete and #n %art w#th the Or'#a #n h"n"r " the *"ther " the 1"ds ?Rhea0Ky&ele

wh#ch are cele&rated #n >hry'#a and #n the re'#"n " the Tr"2an Ida+ Fut the !ar#at#"n

#n these acc"unts #s s" s$all that, whereas s"$e re%resent the K"ry&antes

(C"ry&antes), the Ka&e#r"# (Ca&e#r#), the Datyl"# Ida#"# (Idaean Dactyls), and the

Telh#nes (Telch#nes) as #dent#cal w#th the K"uretes, "thers re%resent the$ as all

#ns$en " "ne an"ther and d#Verent#ate "nly certa#n s$all $atters #n wh#ch theyd#Ver #n res%ect t" "ne an"therP &ut, r"u'hly s%ea#n' and #n 'eneral, they

re%resent the$, "ne and all, as a #nd " #ns%#red %e"%le and as su&2ect t" Facch#c

ren-y, and, #n the 'u#se " $#n#sters, as #ns%#r#n' terr"r at the cele&rat#"n " the

sacred r#tes &y $eans " war0dances, acc"$%an#ed &y u%r"ar and n"#se and

cy$&als and dru$s and ar$s, and als" &y [ute and "utcryP and c"nse/uently these

r#tes are #n a way re'arded as ha!#n' a c"$$"n relat#"nsh#%, I $ean these and

th"se " the Sa$"thra#ans and th"se #n Le$n"s and #n se!eral "ther %laces,

&ecause the d#!#ne $#n#sters are called the sa$e+ H"we!er, e!ery #n!est#'at#"n "

th#s #nd %erta#ns t" the"l"'y, and #s n"t "re#'n t" the s%eculat#"n " the

%h#l"s"%her+ ?c"nt+

II) ETY*OLO1Y O THE 3A*E CURETES

Strabo, *eogra#y 10. 3. ;

.?W Fut s#nce als" the h#st"r#ans, &ecause " the #dent#ty " na$e " the K"uretes

(Curetes), ha!e classed t"'ether th#n's that are unl#e, ne#ther sh"uld I $ysel

shr#n r"$ d#scuss#n' the$ at 'reater len'th, &y way " d#'ress#"n, add#n' such

acc"unt " the#r %hys#cal ha&#ts as #s a%%r"%r#ate t" h#st"ry+ And yet s"$e h#st"r#ans



e!en w#sh t" ass#$#late the#r %hys#cal ha&#ts w#th th"se "thers, and %erha%s there #s

s"$eth#n' %laus#&le #n the#r underta#n'+ "r #nstance, they say that the K"uretes

(Curetes) ?tr#&e " A#t"l#a '"t th#s na$e &ecause, l#e ]'#rls^ (ko!rai), they w"re

w"$enZs cl"thes, "r, they add, there was a ash#"n " th#s #nd a$"n' the 1rees,

and the I"n#ans were called ]tun#c0tra#l#n',^ and the s"ld#ers " Le"n#das were

]dress#n' the#r ha#r^ when they were t" '" "rth t" &attle, s" that the >ers#ans, #t #ssa#d, c"nce#!ed a c"nte$%t "r the$, th"u'h #n the &attle they $ar!elled at the$+

S%ea#n' 'enerally, the art " car#n' "r the ha#r c"ns#sts &"th #n #ts nurture and #n

the way #t #s cut, and &"th are '#!en s%ec#al attent#"n &y ]'#rls^ and ]y"uths^P s" that

there are se!eral ways #n wh#ch #t #s easy t" der#!e an ety$"l"'y " the

w"rd ko!retes+ It #s reas"na&le t" su%%"se, als", that the war0dance was rst

#ntr"duced &y %ers"ns wh" were tra#ned #n th#s %art#cular way #n the $atter " ha#r

and dress, these &e#n' called K"uretes, and that th#s dance aV"rded a %reteGt t"

th"se als" wh" were $"re warl#e than the rest and s%ent the#r l#e under ar$s, s"

that they t"" ca$e t" &e called &y the sa$e na$e,Co!retes00I $ean the K"uretes

?tr#&es #n Eu&"#a, A#t"l#a, and Aarnan#a+ And #ndeed H"$er a%%l#ed th#s na$e t"

y"un' s"ld#ers + + +

S" $uch "r the ety$"l"'y " the w"rd ko!retes+ The war0dance was a s"ld#ersZ

danceP and th#s #s %la#nly #nd#cated &"th &y the ]>yrrh#c dance,^ and &y >yrr#h"s

(>yrrh#chus), wh" #s sa#d t" &e the "under " th#s #nd " tra#n#n' "r y"un' $en, as

als" &y the treat#ses "n $#l#tary aVa#rs+ ?c"nt+

III) THE OR1IASTIC DA3CES

Strabo, *eogra#y 10. 3. - / 10 ;

.? Fut I $ust n"w #n!est#'ate h"w #t c"$es a&"ut that s" $any na$es ha!e &een

used " "ne and the sa$e th#n', and the the"l"'#cal ele$ent c"nta#ned #n the#r

h#st"ry+ 3"w th#s #s c"$$"n &"th t" the 1rees and t" the &ar&ar#ans, t" %er"r$

the#r sacred r#tes #n c"nnect#"n w#th the relaGat#"n " a est#!al, these r#tes &e#n'

%er"r$ed s"$et#$es w#th rel#'#"us ren-y, s"$et#$es w#th"ut #tP s"$et#$es w#th

$us#c, s"$et#$es n"tP and s"$et#$es #n secret, s"$et#$es "%enly+ And #t #s #n

acc"rdance w#th the d#ctates " nature that th#s sh"uld &e s", "r, #n the rst %lace,

the relaGat#"n draws the $#nd away r"$ hu$an "ccu%at#"ns and turns the real

$#nd t"wards that wh#ch #s d#!#neP and, sec"ndly, the rel#'#"us ren-y see$s t"

aV"rd a #nd " d#!#ne #ns%#rat#"n and t" &e !ery l#e that " the s""thsayerP and,

th#rdly, the secrecy w#th wh#ch the sacred r#tes are c"ncealed #nduces re!erence "r

the d#!#ne, s#nce #t #$#tates the nature " the d#!#ne, wh#ch #s t" a!"#d &e#n'

%erce#!ed &y "ur hu$an sensesP and, "urthly, $us#c, wh#ch #ncludes danc#n' aswell as rhyth$ and $el"dy, at the sa$e t#$e, &y the del#'ht #t aV"rds and &y #ts

art#st#c &eauty, &r#n's us #n t"uch w#th the d#!#ne, and th#s "r the "ll"w#n' reas"nP

"r alth"u'h #t has &een well sa#d that hu$an &e#n's then act $"st l#e the '"ds

when they are d"#n' '""d t" "thers, yet "ne $#'ht &etter say, when they are

ha%%yP and such ha%%#ness c"ns#sts " re2"#c#n', cele&rat#n' est#!als, %ursu#n'

%h#l"s"%hy, and en'a'#n' #n $us#cP "r, # $us#c #s %er!erted when $us#c#ans turn



the#r art t" sensual del#'hts at sy$%"s#u$s and #n "rchestr#c and scen#c

%er"r$ances and the l#e, we sh"uld n"t lay the &la$e u%"n $us#c #tsel, &ut

sh"uld rather eGa$#ne the nature " "ur syste$ " educat#"n, s#nce th#s #s &ased "n

$us#c+

?@J And "n th#s acc"unt >lat", and e!en &e"re h#s t#$e the >ytha'"re#ans, called

%h#l"s"%hy $us#cP and they say that the un#!erse #s c"nst#tuted #n acc"rdance w#thhar$"ny, assu$#n' that e!ery "r$ " $us#c #s the w"r " the '"ds+ And #n th#s

sense, als", the *"usa# (*uses) are '"ddesses, and A%"ll"n #s leader " the *"usa#,

and %"etry as a wh"le #s laudat"ry " the '"ds+ And &y the sa$e c"urse "

reas"n#n' they als" attr#&ute t" $us#c the u%&u#ld#n' " $"rals, &el#e!#n' that

e!eryth#n' wh#ch tends t" c"rrect the $#nd #s cl"se t" the '"ds+ 3"w $"st " the

1rees ass#'ned t" D#"nys"s, A%"ll"n, Heate, the *"usa#, and a&"!e all t"

De$eter, e!eryth#n' " an "r'#ast#c "r Facch#c "r ch"ral nature, as well as the

$yst#c ele$ent #n #n#t#at#"nsP and they '#!e the na$e ]Iah"s^ n"t "nly t" D#"nys"s

&ut als" t" the leader0#n0ch#e " the $yster#es, wh" #s the Da#$"n " De$eter+ And

&ranch0&ear#n', ch"ral danc#n', and #n#t#at#"ns are c"$$"n ele$ents #n the w"rsh#%

" these '"ds+ As "r the *"usa# and A%"ll"n, the *"usa# %res#de "!er the ch"ruses,

whereas A%"ll"n %res#des &"th "!er these and the r#tes " d#!#nat#"n+ Fut all

educated $en, and es%ec#ally the $us#c#ans, are $#n#sters " the *"usa#P and &"th

these and th"se wh" ha!e t" d" w#th d#!#nat#"n are $#n#sters " A%"ll"nP and the

#n#t#ated and t"rch0&earers and h#er"%hants, " De$eterP and the S#len"# and Satyr"#

(Satyrs) and Faha# (Facchae), and als" the Lena# and Thy#a# (Thy#ades) and

*#$all"nes and 3abdes and 3y$%ha# and the &e#n's called T#tyr"#, " D#"nys"s+

?c"nt+

I\) DA3CE O THE CRETA3 CURETES

Strabo, *eogra#y 10. 3. 11 ;

.?@@ In Krete (Crete), n"t "nly these r#tes, &ut #n %art#cular th"se sacred t" eus,

were %er"r$ed al"n' w#th "r'#ast#c w"rsh#% and w#th the #nd " $#n#sters wh"

were #n the ser!#ce " D#"nys"s, I $ean the Satyr"# (Satyrs)+ These $#n#sters they

called K"uretes (Curetes), y"un' $en wh" eGecuted $"!e$ents #n ar$"ur,

acc"$%an#ed &y danc#n', as they set "rth the $yth#cal st"ry " the &#rth " eusP #n

th#s they #ntr"duced Kr"n"s (Cr"nus) as accust"$ed t" swall"w h#s ch#ldren

#$$ed#ately ater the#r &#rth, and Rhea as try#n' t" ee% her tra!a#l secret and,

when the ch#ld was &"rn, t" 'et #t "ut " the way and sa!e #ts l#e &y e!ery $eans #n

her %"werP and t" acc"$%l#sh th#s #t #s sa#d that she t"" as hel%ers the K"uretes,

wh", &y surr"und#n' the '"ddess w#th ta$&"ur#nes and s#$#lar n"#sy #nstru$entsand w#th war0dance and u%r"ar, were su%%"sed t" str#e terr"r #nt" Kr"n"s and

w#th"ut h#s n"wled'e t" steal h#s ch#ld awayP and that, acc"rd#n' t" trad#t#"n, eus

was actually reared &y the$ w#th the sa$e d#l#'enceP c"nse/uently the K"uretes,

e#ther &ecause, &e#n' y"un', that #s ]y"uths,^ they %er"r$ed th#s ser!#ce, "r

&ecause they ]reared^ eus ]#n h#s y"uth^ (ko!ros) ("r &"th eG%lanat#"ns are '#!en),



were acc"rded th#s a%%ellat#"n, as # they were Satyr"#, s" t" s%ea, #n the ser!#ce "

eus+ Such, then, were the 1rees #n the $atter " "r'#ast#c w"rsh#%+ ?c"nt+

\) DA3CE O THE >HRY1IA3 CORYFA3TES


.?@B Fut as "r the Fereyntes (Ferecynt#ans), a tr#&e " >hry'#ans, and the

>hry'#ans #n 'eneral, and th"se " the Tr"2ans wh" l#!e r"und Ida, they t"" h"ld

Rhea #n h"n"r and w"rsh#% her w#th "r'#es, call#n' her *"ther " the '"ds and

A'd#st#s and >hry'#a the 1reat 1"ddess, and als", r"$ the %laces where she #s

w"rsh#%%ed, Ida#a and D#ndy$ene and S#%ylene and >ess#nunt#s and Ky&ele (Cy&ele)

and Ky&e&e+ The 1rees use the sa$e na$e K"uretes (Curetes) "r the $#n#sters "

the '"ddess, n"t ta#n' the na$e, h"we!er, r"$ the sa$e $yth#cal st"ry, &ut

re'ard#n' the$ as a d#Verent set " K"uretes, hel%ers as #t were, anal"'"us t" the

Satyr"# (Satyrs)P and the sa$e they als" call K"ry&antes (C"ry&antes)+ ?c"nt+

\I) DA3CES O THE >HRY1IA3 CRETA3 CURETES


.?@ The %"ets &ear w#tness t" such !#ews as I ha!e su''ested+ "r #nstance, when

>#ndar ?1ree Cth F+C+, #n the d#thyra$& wh#ch &e'#ns w#th these w"rds, ]In earl#er

t#$es there $arched the lay " the d#thyra$&s l"n' drawn "ut,^ $ent#"ns the

hy$ns sun' #n h"n"r " D#"nys"s, &"th the anc#ent and the later "nes, and then,

%ass#n' "n r"$ these, says, ]T" %er"r$ the %relude #n thy h"n"r, 'reat *"ther, the

wh#rl#n' " cy$&als #s at hand, and a$"n' the$, als", the clan'#n' " castanets,

and the t"rch that &la-eth &eneath the tawny %#ne0trees,^ he &ears w#tness t" the

c"$$"n relat#"nsh#% &etween the r#tes eGh#&#ted #n the w"rsh#% " D#"nys"s a$"n'

the 1rees and th"se #n the w"rsh#% " the *"ther " the '"ds a$"n' the >hry'#ans,"r he $aes these r#tes cl"sely a#n t" "ne an"ther+

And Eur#%#des ?1ree Cth F+C+ d"es l#ew#se, #n h#s %akk#ai (%acc#ae), c#t#n' the

Lyd#an usa'es at the sa$e t#$e w#th th"se " >hry'#a, &ecause " the#r s#$#lar#ty

]Fut ye wh" let *"unt T$"l"s, "rtress " Lyd#a, re!el0&and " $#ne, w"$en wh"$ I

&r"u'ht r"$ the land " &ar&ar#ans as $y ass#stants and tra!ell#n' c"$%an#"ns,

u%l#t the ta$&"ur#nes nat#!e t" >hry'#an c#t#es, #n!ent#"ns " $#ne and $"ther

Rhea+^

And a'a#n, ]ha%%y he wh", &lest $an, #n#t#ated #n the $yst#c r#tes, #s %ure #n h#s

l#e, + + + wh", %reser!#n' the r#'hte"us "r'#es " the 'reat $"ther Ky&ele (Cy&ele),

and &rand#sh#n' the thyrs"s "n h#'h, and wreathed w#th #!y, d"th w"rsh#% D#"nys"s+

C"$e, ye Faha# (Facchae), c"$e, ye Faha#, &r#n'#n' d"wn Fr"$#"s, '"d the

ch#ld " '"d, "ut " the >hry'#an $"unta#ns #nt" the &r"ad h#'hways " 1reece+^

And a'a#n, #n the "ll"w#n' !erses he c"nnects the Kretan usa'es als" w#th the

>hry'#an ]O th"u h#d#n'0&"wer " the K"uretes (Curetes), and sacred haunts "

Krete (Crete) that 'a!e &#rth t" eus, where "r $e the tr#%le0crested K"ry&antes #n

the#r ca!erns #n!ented th#s h#de0stretched c#rclet, and &lent #ts Facch#c re!elry w#th

the h#'h0%#tched, sweet0s"und#n' &reath " >hry'#an [utes, and #n RheaZs hands



%laced #ts res"und#n' n"#se, t" acc"$%any the sh"uts " the Faha# (Facchae), and

r"$ *"ther Rhea ren-#ed Satyr"# (Satyrs) "&ta#ned #t and 2"#ned #t t" the ch"ral

dances " the Tr#eter#des, #n wh"$ D#"nysus taes del#'ht+^

And #n the alamedes the Ch"rus says, ]Thysa, dau'hter " D#"nys"s, wh" "n Ida

re2"#ces w#th h#s dear $"ther #n the Iacch#c re!els " ta$&"ur#nes+^ ?c"nt+

\II) DAE*O3 I3\E3TORS O *USICAL I3STRU*E3TS

Strabo, *eogra#y 10. 3. 14 / 1& ;

.?@ And when they &r#n' Se#len"s (S#lenus) and *arsyas and Oly$%"s #nt" "ne

and the sa$e c"nnect#"n, and $ae the$ the h#st"r#cal #n!ent"rs " [utes, they

a'a#n, a sec"nd t#$e, c"nnect the D#"nys#ac and the >hry'#an r#tesP and they "ten

#n a c"nused $anner dru$ "n Ida and Oly$%"s as the sa$e $"unta#n+ 3"w there

are "ur %eas " Ida called Oly$%"s, near Antandr#aP and there #s als" the *ys#an

Oly$%"s, wh#ch #ndeed &"rders "n Ida, &ut #s n"t the sa$e+ At any rate, S"%h"les

?Cth F+C+, #n h#s olyBena, re%resent#n' *enelaus as #n haste t" set sa#l r"$ Tr"y,

&ut A'a$e$n"n as w#sh#n' t" re$a#n &eh#nd "r a sh"rt t#$e "r the sae "%r"%#t#at#n' Athena, #ntr"duces *enelas as say#n', ]Fut d" th"u, here re$a#n#n',

s"$ewhere #n the Idaean land c"llect ["cs " Oly$%"s and "Ver the$ #n sacr#ce+^

?@ They #n!ented na$es a%%r"%r#ate t" the [ute, and t" the n"#ses $ade &y

castanets, cy$&als, and dru$s, and t" the#r accla$at#"ns and sh"uts " ]eu0ah,^

and sta$%#n's " the eetP and they als" #n!ented s"$e " the na$es &y wh#ch t"

des#'nate the $#n#sters, ch"ral dancers, and attendants u%"n the sacred r#tes, I

$ean Ka&e#r"# (Ca&e#r#) and K"ry&antes (C"ry&antes) and >anes and Satyr"#

(Satyrs) and T#tyr"#, and they called the '"d Fah"s (Facchus), and Rhea Ky&ele

(Cy&ele) "r Ky&e&e "r D#ndy$ene acc"rd#n' t" the %laces where she was

w"rsh#%%ed+ Sa&a-#"s als" &el"n's t" the >hry'#an 'r"u% and #n a way #s the ch#ld "

the *"ther, s#nce he t"" trans$#tted the r#tes " D#"nys"s+ ?c"nt+

\III) THE THRACIA3 OR1IIES OR1IASTIC *USIC

Strabo, *eogra#y 10. 3. 1$ / 1 ;

.?@ Als" rese$&l#n' these r#tes are the K"tyt#an (C"ttyt#an) and the Fend#de#an

r#tes %ract#ced a$"n' the Thrac#ans, a$"n' wh"$ the Or%h#c r#tes had the#r

&e'#nn#n'+ 3"w the K"tys (C"tys) wh" #s w"rsh#%%ed a$"n' the Ed"n#ans, and als"

the #nstru$ents used #n her r#tes, are $ent#"ned &y A#shyl"s (Aeschylus)

?tra'ed#an Cth F+C+P "r he says, ]O ad"ra&le K"tys a$"n' the Ed"n#ans, and ye

wh" h"ld $"unta#n0ran'#n' #nstru$entsP^ and he $ent#"ns #$$ed#ately aterwards

the attendants " D#"nys"s ]"ne, h"ld#n' #n h#s hands the &"$&yces, t"#ls"$e w"r

" the turnerZs ch#sel, lls ull the n'ered $el"dy, the call that &r#n's "n ren-y,

wh#le an"ther causes t" res"und the &r"n-e0&"und c"tylae^ and a'a#n, ]str#n'ed

#nstru$ents ra#se the#r shr#ll cry, and r#'htul $#$#cers r"$ s"$e %lace unseen

&ell"w l#e &ulls, and the se$&lance " dru$s, as " su&terranean thunder, r"lls

al"n', a terr#y#n' s"und^P "r these r#tes rese$&le the >hry'#an r#tes, and #t #s at

least n"t unl#ely that, 2ust as the >hry'#ans the$sel!es were c"l"n#sts r"$ Thrae



(Thrace), s" als" the#r sacred r#tes were &"rr"wed r"$ there+ Als" when they

#dent#y D#"nys"s and the Ed"n#an Ly"ur'"s (Lycur'us), they h#nt at the

h"$"'ene#ty " the#r sacred r#tes+

?@Q r"$ #ts $el"dy and rhyth$ and #nstru$ents, all Thra#an $us#c has &een

c"ns#dered t" &e As#at#c+ And th#s #s clear, rst, r"$ the %laces where the *"usa#

(*uses) ha!e &een w"rsh#%%ed, "r >#er#a and Oly$%"s and >#$%la and Le#&ethr"nwere #n anc#ent t#$es Thra#an %laces and $"unta#ns, th"u'h they are n"w held &y

the *aed"n#ansP and a'a#n, Hel#"n was c"nsecrated t" the *"usa# &y the

Thra#ans wh" settled #n F"#"t#a, the sa$e wh" c"nsecrated the ca!e " the ny$%hs

called Le#&ethr#des+ And a'a#n, th"se wh" de!"ted the#r attent#"n t" the $us#c "

early t#$es are called Thra#ans, I $ean Or%heus, *usa#"s (*usaeus), and

Tha$yr#sP and Eu$"l%"s, t"", '"t h#s na$e r"$ there+ And th"se wr#ters wh" ha!e

c"nsecrated the wh"le " As#a, as ar as Ind#a, t" D#"nys"s, der#!e the 'reater %art

" $us#c r"$ there+ And "ne wr#ter says, ]str##n' the As#at#c c#thara^P an"ther calls

[utes ]Fereynt#an^ and ]>hry'#an^P and s"$e " the #nstru$ents ha!e &een called

&y &ar&ar#an na$es, nablas, sambyce, barbitos, magadis, and se!eral "thers+

?@W ust as #n all "ther res%ects the Athen#ans c"nt#nue t" &e h"s%#ta&le t" th#n's

"re#'n, s" als" #n the#r w"rsh#% " the '"dsP "r they welc"$ed s" $any " the

"re#'n r#tes that they were r#d#culed there"re &y c"$#c wr#tersP and a$"n' these

were the Thra#an and >hry'#an r#tes+ "r #nstance, the Fend#de#an r#tes are

$ent#"ned &y >lat" ?%h#l"s"%her Cth F+C+, and the >hry'#an &y De$"sthenes

?states$an Cth F+C+, when he casts the re%r"ach u%"n Aesch#nesZ $"ther and

Aesh#nes h#$sel that he was w#th her when she c"nducted #n#t#at#"ns, that he

2"#ned her #n lead#n' the D#"nys#ac $arch, and that $any a t#$e he cr#ed "ut ]eu"e

sa&"e,^ and ]hyes attes, attes hyes^P "r these w"rds are #n the r#tual " Sa&a-#"s

and the *"ther ?Ky&ele+ ?c"nt+

I) >ARE3TA1E CO33ECTIO3 FETXEE3 CURETES, DACTYLS OTHERS

DAE*O3ES

Strabo, *eogra#y 10. 3. 1- / 22 ;

.?@0BB urther, "ne $#'ht als" nd, #n add#t#"n t" these acts c"ncern#n' these

Da#$"nes and the#r !ar#"us na$es, that they were called, n"t "nly $#n#sters "

'"ds, &ut als" '"ds the$sel!es+ "r #nstance,

(A) Hes#"d ?%"et CWth t" Qth F+C+ says that !e dau'hters were &"rn t" Heater"s

(Hecaterus) and the dau'hter " >h"r"neus, ]r"$ wh"$ s%ran' the $"unta#n0

ran'#n' 3y$%ha#, '"ddesses, and the &reed " Satyr"#, (Satyrs) creatures w"rthless

and unt "r w"r, and als" the K"uretes (Curetes), s%"rt#!e '"ds, dancers+^(F) And the auth"r " >h"r"n#s ?1ree e%#c CQth "r Cth F+C+ s%eas " the

K"uretes (Curetes) as [ute0%layers and >hry'#ansP and "thers as earth0&"rn and

wear#n' &ra-en sh#elds+

(C) S"$e call the K"ry&antes (C"ry&antes), and n"t the K"uretes, >hry'#ans, &ut the

K"uretes ]Kretes,^ and say that the Kretes were the rst %e"%le t" d"n &ra-en

ar$"ur #n Eu&"#a, and that "n th#s acc"unt they were als" called Khal#d#ans



(Chalc#d#ans)P

(D) St#ll "thers say that the K"ry&antes, wh" ca$e r"$ Fatr#ana (s"$e say r"$

a$"n' the K"lh#ans (C"lch#ans)), were '#!en as ar$ed $#n#sters t" Rhea &y the

T#tanes+

(E) Fut #n the Kretan (Cretan) acc"unts the K"uretes are called rearers " eus, and

%r"tect"rs " eus, ha!#n' &een su$$"ned r"$ >hry'#a t" Krete &y Rhea+() S"$e say that, " the n#ne Telh#nes (Telch#nes) wh" l#!ed #n Rh"des, th"se wh"

acc"$%an#ed Rhea t" Krete and reared eus #n h#s y"uth (ko!ros) were na$ed

K"uretesP and that Kyr&as (Cyr&as), a c"$rade " these, wh" was the "under "

H#era%ytna ?#n Krete, aV"rded a %reteGt t" the >ras#ans "r say#n' a$"n' the

Rh"d#ans that the K"ry&antes were certa#n Da#$"nes, s"ns " Athena and Hel#"s

(the Sun)+

(1) urther, s"$e call the K"ry&antes (C"ry&antes) s"ns " Kr"n"s (Cr"nus), &ut

"thers say that the K"ry&antes were s"ns " eus and Kall#"%e (Call#"%e) and were

#dent#cal w#th the Ka&e#r"# (Ca&e#r#), and that these went "V t" Sa$"thrae, wh#ch #n

earl#er t#$es was called *el#te, and that the#r r#tes were $yst#cal+

(H) Fut th"u'h the Se%s#an ?De$etr#us " Sce%s#s CBnd F+C+, wh" c"$%#led these

$yths, d"es n"t acce%t the last state$ent, "n the 'r"und that n" $yst#c st"ry "

the Ka&e#r"# (Ca&e#r#) #s t"ld #n Sa$"thrace, st#ll he c#tes als" the "%#n#"n "

Stes#$&r"t"s the Thas#an that the sacred r#tes #n Sa$"thrae were %er"r$ed #n

h"n"r " the Ka&e#r"# and the Se%s#an says that they were called Ka&e#r"# ater the

$"unta#n Ka&e#r"s (Ca&#rus) #n Fereynt#a (Ferecynt#a)+

(I) S"$e, h"we!er, &el#e!e that the K"uretes (Curetes) were the sa$e as the

K"ry&antes and were $#n#sters " Heate+ ?See the se%arate entr#es K"ry&antes

Sa$"thra#"# and Ka&e#r"#+

() Fut the Se%s#an ?CBnd F+C+ a'a#n states, #n "%%"s#t#"n t" the w"rds "

Eur#%#des, that the r#tes " Rhea were n"t sanct#"ned "r #n !"'ue #n Krete (Crete),&ut "nly #n >hry'#a and the Tr"ad, and that th"se wh" say "therw#se are deal#n' #n

$yths rather than #n h#st"ry, th"u'h %erha%s the #dent#ty " the %lace0na$es

c"ntr#&uted t" the#r $a#n' th#s $#stae+ "r #nstance, Ida #s n"t "nly a Tr"2an, &ut

als" a Kretan, $"unta#nP and D#te #s a %lace #n Se%s#a ?#n the Tr"ad and als" a

$"unta#n #n KreteP and >ytna, ater wh#ch the c#ty H#era%ytna ?#n Krete was na$ed,

#s a %ea " ?Tr"2an Ida+ And there #s a H#%%""r"na #n the terr#t"ry " Adra$ytt#"n

?#n the Tr"ad and a H#%%""r"n#"n #n Krete+ And Sa$"n#"n #s the eastern

%r"$"nt"ry " the #sland and a %la#n #n the terr#t"ry " 3eandr#a and #n that " the

AleGandre#ans+

(K) A"us#las ?Cth F+C+, the Ar'#!e, calls Kad$#l"s (Cad$#lus) the s"n " Ka&e#r"(Ca&e#r") and He%ha#st"s, and Kad$#l"s the ather " three Ka&e#r"# (Ca&e#r#), and

these the athers " the 3y$%ha# called Ka&e#r#des (Ca&e#r#des) ?see entry "n the

Ka&e#r"#+

(L) >hereydes ?$yth"'ra%her Cth F+C+ says that n#ne Kyr&antes (Cyr&antes) were

s%run' r"$ A%"ll"n and Rhet#a, and that they t"" u% the#r a&"de #n Sa$"thrae

?see the entry "n the K"ry&antes Sa$"thra#"#P and that three Ka&e#r"# and three

3y$%ha# called Ka&e#r#des were the ch#ldren " Ka&e#r", the dau'hter " >r"teus,



and He%ha#st"s, and that sacred r#tes were #nst#tuted #n h"n"r " each tr#ad+ 3"w #t

has s" ha%%ened that the Ka&e#r"# are $"st h"n"red #n I$&r"s and Le$n"s, &ut

they are als" h"n"red #n se%arate c#t#es " the Tr"adP the#r na$es, h"we!er, are e%t

secret+

(*) Her"d"t"s ?h#st"r#an Cth F+C+ says that there were te$%les " the Ka&e#r"# #n

*e$%h#s, as als" " He%ha#st"s, &ut that Ka$&yses (Ca$&yses) ?h#st"r#cal 'uredestr"yed the$ ?actually " E'y%t#an >tah and h#s s"ns+

(O) The %laces where these de#t#es were w"rsh#%%ed are un#nha&#ted, &"th the

K"ry&ante#"n (C"ry&anteu$) #n Ha$aG#t#a ?#n the Tr"ad #n the terr#t"ry n"w

&el"n'#n' t" the AleGandre#ans near S$#nth#"n, and K"ry&#ssa #n Se%s#a #n the

ne#'h&"rh""d " the r#!er Eure#s ?#n the Tr"ad and " the !#lla'e wh#ch &ears the

sa$e na$e and als" " the w#nter t"rrent A#thalfe#s+

(>) The Se%s#an ?CBnd F+C+ says that #t #s %r"&a&le that the K"uretes (Curetes) and

the K"ry&antes were the sa$e, &e#n' th"se wh" had &een acce%ted as y"un' $en,

"r y"uths, "r the war0dance #n c"nnect#"n w#th the h"ly r#tes " the *"ther " the

'"ds, and als" as korybantes r"$ the act that they ]waled w#th a &utt#n' " the#r

heads^ #n a danc#n' way+ These are called &y the %"et betarmones ]^C"$e n"w, all

ye that are the &estbetarmones " the >ha#aes (>haeac#ans)+^

And &ecause the K"ry&antes are #ncl#ned t" danc#n' and t" rel#'#"us ren-y, we say

" th"se wh" are st#rred w#th ren-y that they are ]"ry&ant#s#n'+^

(`) S"$e wr#ters say that the na$e Datyl"# Ida#"# (Idaean Dactyls) was '#!en t"

the rst settlers " the l"wer sl"%es " *t+ Ida, "r the l"wer sl"%es " $"unta#ns are

called ]eet,^ and the su$$#ts ]heads^P acc"rd#n'ly, the se!eral eGtre$#t#es " Ida

(all " wh#ch are sacred t" the *"ther " the '"ds) were called Datyl"# ?$ean#n'

]n'ers^+

(R) S"%h"les ?tra'ed#an Cth F+C+ th#ns that the rst $ale Datyl"# (Dactyls)

were !e #n nu$&er, wh" were the rst t" d#sc"!er and t" w"r #r"n, as well as$any "ther th#n's wh#ch are useul "r the %ur%"ses " l#e, and that the#r s#sters

were !e #n nu$&er, and that they were called Datyl"# r"$ the#r nu$&er+

(S) Fut d#Verent wr#ters tell the $yth #n d#Verent ways, 2"#n#n' d#culty t" d#cultyP

and &"th the na$es and nu$&ers they use are d#VerentP and they na$e "ne "

the$ Kel$#s (Cel$#s) and "thers Da$na$eneus and Herales and A$"n (Ac$"n)+

(T) S"$e call the$ nat#!es " Ida, "thers settlersP &ut all a'ree that #r"n was rst

w"red &y these "n IdaP and all ha!e assu$ed that they were w#-ards and

attendants " the *"ther " the '"ds, and that they l#!ed #n >hry'#a a&"ut IdaP and

they use the ter$ >hry'#a "r the Tr"ad &ecause, ater Tr"y was saced, the

>hry'#ans, wh"se terr#t"ry &"rdered "n the Tr"ad, '"t the $astery "!er #t+ And theysus%ect that &"th the K"uretes and the K"ry&antes were "Vs%r#n' " the Datyl"#

Ida#"#P at any rate, the rst hundred $en &"rn #n Krete were called Idaean Datyl"#,

they say, and as "Vs%r#n' " these were &"rn n#ne K"uretes, and each " these

&e'"t ten ch#ldren wh" were called Datyl"# Ida#"#+ ?c"nt

) SU**ARY




?B I ha!e &een led "n t" d#scuss these %e"%le rather at len'th, alth"u'h I a$ n"t

#n the least "nd " $yths, &ecause the acts #n the#r case &"rder "n the %r"!#nce "

the"l"'y+ And the"l"'y as a wh"le $ust eGa$#ne early "%#n#"ns and $yths, s#nce

the anc#ents eG%ressed en#'$at#cally the %hys#cal n"t#"ns wh#ch they enterta#ned

c"ncern#n' the acts and always added the $yth#cal ele$ent t" the#r acc"unts+ 3"w#t #s n"t easy t" s"l!e w#th accuracy all the en#'$as, &ut # the $ult#tude " $yths

&e set &e"re us, s"$e a'ree#n' and "thers c"ntrad#ct#n' "ne an"ther, "ne $#'ht &e

a&le $"re read#ly t" c"n2ecture "ut " the$ what the truth #s+ "r #nstance, $en

%r"&a&ly s%ea #n the#r $yths a&"ut the $"unta#n0r"a$#n' " rel#'#"us -eal"ts and

" '"ds the$sel!es, and a&"ut the#r rel#'#"us ren-#es, "r the sa$e reas"n that

they are %r"$%ted t" &el#e!e that the '"ds dwell #n the s#es and sh"w "reth"u'ht,

a$"n' the#r "ther #nterests, "r %r"'n"st#cat#"n &y s#'ns+ 3"w see#n' "r $etals,

and hunt#n', and search#n' "r the th#n's that are useul "r the %ur%"ses " l#e, are

$an#estly cl"sely related t" $"unta#n0r"a$#n', whereas 2u''l#n' and $a'#c are

cl"sely related t" rel#'#"us ren-#es, w"rsh#%, and d#!#nat#"n+ And such als" #s

de!"t#"n t" the arts, #n %art#cular t" the D#"nys#ac and Or%h#c arts+ Fut en"u'h "n

th#s su&2ect+.

I) ADDITIO3AL REERE3CES


.On the sa$e c"ast ?" E%hes"s, As#a *#n"r, + + + #s als" Orty'#a + + + here #s the

$yth#cal scene " the &#rth ?#+e+ Let" 'a!e &#rth t" A%"ll"n and Arte$#s here + + +

A&"!e the 'r"!e l#es *"unt S"l$#ss"s, where, #t #s sa#d, the K"uretes (Curetes)

stat#"ned the$sel!es, and w#th the d#n " the#r ar$s r#'htened Hera "ut " her w#ts

when she was 2eal"usly s%y#n' "n Let", and when they hel%ed Let" t" c"nceal r"$

Hera the &#rth " her ch#ldren ?A%"ll"n and Let" + + + A 'eneral est#!al #s held there

annuallyP and &y a certa#n cust"$ the y"uths !#e "r h"n"r, %art#cularly #n the

s%lend"r " the#r &an/uets there+ At that t#$e, als", a s%ec#al c"lle'e " the K"uretes

h"lds sy$%"s#u$s and %er"r$s certa#n $yst#c sacr#ces+.

Strabo, *eogra#y 7 Fragment &0 ;

.The Ka&e#r"# ?" Sa$"thrae + + + the Kyr&antes and K"ry&antes, and l#ew#se the

K"uretes and the Idaean Datyl"# Ida#"#, are #dent#ed w#th the$+.

CURETES, DACTYLS & CORYBANTES (FROM NONNUS)

I) CORYFA3TES >ROTECTORS O THE I3A3T DIO3YSUS

K"ry&antes as %r"tect"rs " the #nant D#"nys"s a%%ears t" &e a late $yth+ It $ay

der#!e r"$ the Eu&"#an trad#t#"n where Ar#sta#"s and h#s &r"thers care "r the

y"un' '"d+ These Da#$"nes were later #dent#ed w#th the K"uretes+



onn!s, Dionysiaca -. 1$0 9 (trans. 6o!se) (*reek eic &t# .D.) ;

.The '"ddess ?Rhea t"" care " h#$ ?the &a&y D#"nys"s "n *"unt Ky&ele #n

>hry'#aP and wh#le he was yet a &"y, she set h#$ t" dr#!e a car drawn &y ra!en#n'

l#"ns+ X#th#n that '"dwelc"$#n' c"urtyard, the tr#%%#n' K"ry&antes (C"ry&antes)

?#+e+ K"uretes w"uld surr"und D#"nys"s w#th the#r ch#ldcher#sh#n' dance, and clash

the#r sw"rds, and str#e the#r sh#elds w#th re&"und#n' steel #n alternate $"!e$ents,t" c"nceal the 'r"w#n' &"yh""d " D#"nys"sP and as the &"y l#stened t" the

"ster#n' n"#se " the sh#elds he 'rew u% under the care " the K"ry&antes l#e h#s

ather ?eus+.

onn!s, Dionysiaca 13. 13& 9 ;

.The Eu&"#an &attal#"ns were ruled &y sh#eld0&ear#n' K"ry&antes (C"ry&antes),

'uard#ans " D#"nys"s #n h#s 'r"w#n' days wh" #n the >hry'#an 'ul &es#de

$"unta#n0ran'#n' Rhe#a surr"unded Fah"s st#ll a ch#ld w#th the#r dru$s#ns+ They

"und h#$ "nce, a h"rned &a&y, c"!ered w#th a cl"a the c"l"ur " %ur%le w#ne,

ly#n' a$"n' the r"cs where In" had let h#$ #n char'e " *yst#s the $"ther

K"ry$&"s (C"ry$&us)+ All these ca$e then r"$ the a$"us #sland >ry$neus, and*#$as Xaddle""t, and A$"n (Ac$"n) the "rester, Da$neus and Oyth""s

(Ocyth"us) the sh#el$anP and w#th the$ ca$e [ash0hel$ *el#sseus as c"$rade t"

Ida#"s (Idaeus), wh"$ ther ather S""s (S"cus) under the #nsane '"ad " #$%#ety

had "nce cast "ut " the &r#ne'#rt c"untry al"n' w#th K"$&e (C"$&e) the $"ther "

se!en ?K"ry&antes+ They esca%ed and %assed t" Kn"ss#an s"#l, and a'a#n went "n

the#r tra!els r"$ Krete (Crete) t" >hry'#a, and r"$ >hry'#a t" AthensP where they

re$a#ned as "re#'n settlers and hearth'uests unt#l Ker"%s (Cecr"%s) destr"yed

S""s w#th a!en'#n' &lade " 2ust#ceP then lea!#n' the land " &r#ne[""ded

*arath"n turned the#r ste%s h"$ewards t" the sacred s"#l " the A&antes, the

earth&"rn st"c " the anc#ent K"uretes, wh"se l#e #s the tune " %#%es, wh"se l#e #s'""dly n"#se " &eaten sw"rds, wh"se heart #s set u%"n rhyth$#c c#rcl#n' " the eet

and the sh#eld0w#se danc#n'+ T" the ar$y ca$e als" warr#"r s"ns " the A&antes ?the

$en " Eu&"#a + + + Se!en ca%ta#ns ar$ed th#s h"st, &ut all " "ne te$%er "r war

w#th &la-#n' altar they %r"%#t#ated the tenants " the "d#ac %ath, c"$$#tt#n' the#r

ca$%a#'n t" the %lanets " e/ual nu$&er+.

?3+F+ The st"ry " S""s a%%ears t" &e a d#st#nctly Eu&"#an tale+ It #s $"re l#ely that

these .K"ry&antes. were the Eu&"#an '"d Ar#sta#"s, and h#s &r"thers, wh" #n l"cal

$yth cared "r the #nant D#"nys"s+ The na$es '#!en, h"we!er, are th"se " the

K"uretes+ 3"nnus ("r h#s s"urce) #s %erha%s c"n[at#n' tw" unrelated trad#t#"ns+

II) CORYFA3TES, CURETES, DACTYLS I3 THE I3DIA3 XAR O DIO3YSUS


.?The '"ddess Rhe#a su$$"ned the rust#c d#!#n#t#es t" the ar$y " D#"nys"s "r h#s

ca$%a#'n a'a#nst the Ind#ans At "nce Rhe#a All$"ther sent "ut her $essen'er t"

'ather the h"st, the dancer &e"re her l"!erattle t#$&rel, t" %r"cla#$ the warare "

Lya#"s under ar$s+ ?The K"urete >yrrh#h"s (>yrrh#chus), 'ather#n' a !ar#ed ar$y

"r D#"nys"s, sc"ured all the settle$ents " the eternal w"rdP all the races " Eur"%e



and the nat#"ns " the As#at#c land he &r"u'ht t" rende-!"us #n the land " the

l#!eda#nty Lyd#ans+.


.The Eu&"#an &attal#"ns ?wh" 2"#ned D#"nys"sZ ar$y #n the Ind#an Xar were ruled

&y sh#eld0&ear#n' K"ry&antes (C"ry&antes) + + + All these ca$e then r"$ the a$"us#sland >ry$neus, and *#$as Xaddle""t, and A$"n the "rester, Da$neus and

Oyth""s the sh#el$anP and w#th the$ ca$e [ash0hel$ *el#sseus as c"$rade t"

Ida#"s + + + T" the ar$y ca$e als" warr#"r s"ns " the A&antes ?the $en "

Eu&"#a + + + Se!en ca%ta#ns ar$ed th#s h"st, &ut all " "ne te$%er "r war w#th

&la-#n' altar they %r"%#t#ated the tenants " the "d#ac %ath, c"$$#tt#n' the#r

ca$%a#'n t" the %lanets " e/ual nu$&er+.


.?The '"ddess Rhe#a su$$"ned '"ds t" 2"#n D#"nys"s #n h#s war a'a#nst the

Ind#ans #rst r"$ the re%ea r"c " Le$n"s the tw" Ka&e#r"# (Ca&e#r#) #n ar$s

answered the st"r$y call answered the st"r$y call &es#de the $yst#c t"rch "Sa$"s ?Sa$"thrae, tw" s"ns " He%ha#st"s wh"$ Thra#an Ka&e#r" had &"rne t"

the hea!enly s$#th, Al"n and Eury$ed"n well s#lled at the "r'e, wh" &"re the#r

$"therZs tr#&al na$e+

r"$ Krete (Crete) ca$e 'r#$ warr#"rs t" 2"#n the$, the Datyl"# Ida#"# (Idaean

Dactyls), dwellers "n a r"cy cra', earth&"rn K"ry&antes (C"ry&antes), a 'enerat#"n

wh#ch 'rew u% "r Rhe#a sel$ade "ut " the 'r"und #n the "lden t#$e+ These had

surr"unded eus a new&"rn &a&e #n the ca!ern wh#ch "stered h#s &reed#n', and

danced a&"ut h#$ sh#eld #n hand, the dece#!ers, ra#s#n' w#ld s"n's wh#ch ech"ed

a$"n' the r"cs and $addened the a#r00the n"#se " the clan'#n' &rass res"unded

#n the ears " Kr"n"s h#'h a$"n' the cl"uds, and c"ncealed the #nancy " Kr"n#"n

w#th dru$$#n's+ The ch#e and leader " the danc#n' K"ry&antes was >yrrh#h"s

(>yrrh#chus) and shae0a0sh#eld Ida#"s (Idaeus)P and w#th the$ ca$e Kn"ss#an

Kyr&as (Cn"ss#an Cyr&as), and ar$ed h#s $"tley tr""%s, the#r na$eell"w+

The s%#teul Telh#nes (Telch#nes) als" ca$e als" t" the Ind#an Xar, 'ather#n' "ut "

the ca!ern"us dee%s " the sea+ Ly"s (Lycus) ca$e, sha#n' w#th h#s l"n' ar$ a

!ery l"n' s%earP Sel$#s ca$e, "ll"w#n' Da$na$eneus, 'u#d#n' the seachar#"t "

h#s ather >"se#d"n+ These were wanderers wh" had let Tle%"le$"sZs land ?Rh"des

and taen t" the sea, ur#"us daimones " the waters, wh" l"n' a'" had &een cut "V

r"$ the#r atherZs land &y Thr#naG w#th *aareus and 'l"r#"us Au'es s"ns " Hel#"sP

dr#!en r"$ the#r nurs#n'0$"ther they t"" u% the water " StyG w#th the#r s%#teul

hands, and $ade &arren the s"#l " ru#tul Rh"des, &y drench#n' the elds w#thwater " Tartar"s+.


.As s""n as D#"nys"s had d"nned the well0wr"u'ht '"lden 'ear " war #n the

K"ry&ant#an c"urtyard, he let the %eaceul %rec#ncts " dancel"!#n' Rhe#a and went

%ast *e#"n#a + + + The K"ry&antes (C"ry&antes) were &usy a&"ut the &r#'ht $an'er



" the %anthers, %ass#n' the y"estra%s "!er the#r necs, and entrusted the#r l#"ns

t" #!y&"und harness when they had astened th#s threaten#n' &#t #n the#r $"uths+.

onn!s, Dionysiaca 14. 3$ 9 ;

.At the $"uth " the Asta#d lae $any a s"n " Ind#a was cut u% &y the steel " the

K"uretes (Curetes)+ The warr#"rs surr"unded the &attal#"ns " the "e w#th &l"w "r&l"w, and #$#tated the rhyth$s " the ar$"ur0dance #n the wheel#n' $"!e$ents "

the#r eet+.

onn!s, Dionysiaca 1&. $& 9 ;

.The Or'#es (rgia) " the carrysh#eld K"ry&antes (C"ry&antes), tw#rl#n' the#r ste%s

"r the dance0#n0ar$"ur, and all #n a wh#rl the sh#elds were &eaten &y alternate

thu$% " hand "r the %lun'#n' " #r"n+.


.?Der#ades addresses h#s Ind#an tr""%s ]D#sar$ $e the K"ry&antes (C"ry&antes)

als" and lead the$ ca%t#!e+^.


.?In the c"urse " a &attle &etween the D#"nys"sZ ar$y and the Ind#ans The

dancers " &attle, the K"ry&antes D#ta#"# (D#ctaean C"ry&antes), 2"#ned #n the

&attle+ ?The K"urete Da$neus "u'ht and %ursued the ene$y tr#&es+ On the %la#n

the warcry s"unded+ ?The K"urete >ry$neus succ"ured the eGc#ted Faha#

(Facchae) w"$en, l#e a a#r w#nd wh#ch &l"ws astern and sa!es the $ar#ner r#d#n'

w#th the 'alesP ull welc"$e he ca$e t" the ar$y, as ?D#"s"ur"s >"lydeues

&r#n's cal$ t" &uVeted sh#%s when he %uts t" slee% the hea!y &#ll"ws " the

'ale&reed#n' sea+

?The K"urete Oyth""s (Ocyth"us) w#th l#'ht /u#c ste% scared away the warr#"rs+*any he slew w#th s%eedy ate, &r#n'#n' d"wn "ne w#th s%ear #n stand0u% 'ht, "ne

w#th a sh"t at a d#stant !#ew, cutt#n' d"wn an"ther w#th h"rr#d n#eP an"ther st#ll

runn#n' "nwards and [y#n' l#e t" the &ree-es the ur#"us %ursuer cau'ht, %ly#n' h#s

nees and eet /u#c as the w#nd00as '""d a runner as I%h#l"s, wh" used t" s#$

the untr"dden cal$ t"uch#n' "nly the surace w#th the s"les " h#s eet, and %assed

"!er a c"rneld w#th"ut &end#n' the t"%s " the ears w#th h#s tra!ell#n' ""tste%s+

Oyth""s was l#e h#$ w#nd""t+

?The K"urete *#$as was #n the th#c " the ray, $a#n' a dance " &attle w#th

w"!en %aces and r#'hten#n' the h"st, sw#n'#n' a ca%er#n' sw"rd, the dancer0at0

ar$s s#%%#n' #n dead earnest w#th n"wl#n' lea%sP as "nce the %yrrh#c dance ra#sed

a n"#se #n the ears " Kr"n"s, and clan'ed sw"rd "n sh#eld "n *"unt Ida, and ran'

"ut a !al#ant d#n t" dece#!e the ene$y, as he screened the stealthy nurture "

'r"w#n' eus+ S" $a#lclad *#$as &rand#shed h#s s%ear #n a#r #n $#$#cry " the

dance0at0ar$s, as he cut d"wn the heads " h#s "es, an #r"n har!est " &attleP s" he

"Vered the rstru#ts " the ene$y t" w#tness#n' Fah"s w#th Ind#anslay#n' aGe

and d"u&le&#t#n' sw"rdP s" he %"ured h#s l#&at#"n " &l""d and '"re t" D#"nys"s,

#nstead " the sacr#ce " cattle and the w"nted dr#n"Ver#n' " w#ne+



Fes#de Oyth""s, ?the K"urete A$"n (Ac$"n) w#th &r#ll#ant hel$et $"!ed h#s

restless c#rcl#n' eet #n n"w#n' lea%s+ He "u'ht unshaea&le l#e the ha$$er0

&eaten an!#l " h#s na$e, h"ld#n' K"ry&ant#c sh#eld, wh#ch had "ten held #n #ts

h"ll"w &a&y eus aslee% a$"n' the $"unta#ns yes, a l#ttle ca!e "nce was the

h"$e " eus, where the sacred '"at ?A$althe#a %layed the nurse t" h#$ w#th her

$#ly udder "r a $aesh#t, and cle!erly let h#$ suc the stran'e $#l, when then"#se " shaen sh#elds res"unded &eaten "n the &ac w#th tu$&l#n' steel t" h#de

the l#ttle ch#ld w#th the#r clan'#n'+ The#r hel% all"wed Rhe#a t" wra% u% that st"ne "

dece#t, and 'a!e #t t" Kr"n"s (Cr"nus) "r a $eal #n %lace " Kr"n#des ?eus+

Shar%s#'hted ?K"urete Ida#"s (Idaeus) entered the re!els " war, that dance "

&attle turn#n' h#s #ntr#cate ste%s, #ncessantly shaen w#th the $ad %ass#"n "r Ind#an

carna'e+

?The K"urete *el#sseus als" scared all the dusy h"st w#th &"ldness unshaen+ True

t" h#s na$e, he #$#tated the &ee u% #n ar$s w#th her terr#&le st#n'+ *"rrheus hurled

a hurtl#n' st"ne a'a#nst he /u#c K"urete wh" aces h#$, &ut he $#ssed *el#sseus,

he $#ssed h#$00"r #t #s n"t see$ly that a K"ry&ante sh"uld &e #lled w#th a

$#llst"ne+

S" the dancers " cruel war "u'ht all t"'ether as "ne+ R"und the car " Der#ades

they 'athered #n a r#n' " sh#elds, &eat#n' the#r ar$"ur, and surr"unded the t"wer #n

rhyth$#c &attle and sh#eld&ear#n' dance+ And the n"#se $"unted thr"u'h the a#r t"

the %alace " eus, and the a#r""ted H"ra# (Seas"ns) tre$&led at the tur$"#l "

&"th ar$#es+.

onn!s, Dionysiaca 2-. 21& 9 ;

.?In the war " D#"nys"s a'a#nst the Ind#ans The K"ry&antes D#ta#"# (D#caean

C"ry&antes) 2"#ned &attle, sha#n' the %lu$es " the#r h#'hcrested hel$ets, rush#n'

$adly #nt" the ray+ The#r naed sw"rds ran' "n the#r &eaten sh#elds #n e$ulat#"n,al"n' w#th res"und#n' lea%sP they #$#tated the rhyth$ " the dance0at0ar$s w#th

/u#c c#rcl#n' $"!e$ents " the#r eet, a re!el #n the &attleeld+ The Ind#an nat#"n

was ra!a'ed &y the steel " th"se $"unta#neer herds$en, the K"uretes+ *any a

$an ell headl"n' #nt" the dust when the heard the &ell"w " the hea!y0thu$%#n'

"Gh#des+.

onn!s, Dionysiaca 2-. 24 9 ;

.The l"!erattle K"ry&antes (C"ry&antes) &eat#n' the#r hands "n &"th s#des " the

r"unded s#n, the t#nl#n' cy$&als+.

CULT OF CURETES, DACTYLS & CORYBANTES IN GREECE

I) >YRRHIKHOS T"wn #n Laeda#$"n#a (S"uthern 1reece)

A '"d na$ed >yrrh#h"s was w"rsh#%%ed #n the na$e0sae t"wn+ He was Se#len"s0

>yrrh#"s, the Satyr0K"urete+



a!sanias, Descrition o< *reece 3. 2&. 2 (trans. >ones) (*reek traelog!e 2nd

.D.) ;

.Others say that S#len"s ca$e r"$ *alea ?Ca%e #n Laeda#$"n#a and settled here

?>yrrh#h"s #n Laed"$a#n#a+ That S#len"s was &r"u'ht u% #n *alea #s clear r"$

these w"rds #n an "de " >#ndar ]The $#'hty "ne, the dancer, wh"$ the $"unt "

*alea nurtured, hus&and " 3a#s, S#len"s+^ 3"t that >#ndar sa#d h#s na$e was>yrrh#h"s (>yrrh#chus)P that #s a state$ent r"$ the $en " *alea+ At >yrrh#h"s

there #s a well #n the $aret0%lace, c"ns#dered t" &e the '#t " S#len"s+ I th#s were

t" a#l, they w"uld &e sh"rt " water+.

II) FRASIAI T"wn #n Laeda#$"n#a (S"uthern 1reece)

a!sanias, Descrition o< *reece 3. 24. & ;

.There #s a s$all %r"$"nt"ry at Fras#a# ?#n Laeda#$"n#a, wh#ch %r"2ects 'ently #nt"

the seaP "n #t stand &r"n-e 'ures, n"t $"re than a ""t h#'h, w#th ca%s "n the#r

heads+ I a$ n"t sure whether they c"ns#der the$ t" &e D#"s"ur"# (D#"scur#) "r

K"ry&antes ?K"uretes+ They are three #n nu$&erP a statue " Athene $aes a"urth+.

III) *ESSE3E Ch#e C#ty " *essen#a (S"uthern 1reece)

a!sanias, Descrition o< *reece 4. 31. - ;

.The *essen#ans ?at *essene, *essen#a ha!e a + + + hall " the K"uretes (Curetes),

where they $ae &urnt "Ver#n's " e!ery #nd " l#!#n' creature, thrust#n' #nt" the

[a$es n"t "nly cattle and '"ats, &ut nally &#rds as well+.

I\) OLY*>IA Sanctuary #n El#s (S"uthern 1reece)

a!sanias, Descrition o< *reece &. 14. 7 ;

.Ater th#s stands an altar " Herales surna$ed >arastates (Ass#stant) ?at Oly$%#aP

there are als" altars " the ?Datyl"#, Dactyls &r"thers " Herales00E%#$edes, Idas,

>a#"na#"s (>ae"naeus), and Ias"s (Iasus)P I a$ aware, h"we!er, that the altar " Idas

#s called &y "thers the altar " Aes#das+.

a!sanias, Descrition o< *reece &. 14. - ;

.3ear the treasury " the S#y"n#ans ?at Oly$%#a #s an altar " Herales, e#ther "ne

" the K"uretes (Curetes), "r the s"n " Al$ena, "r &"th acc"unts are '#!en+.

\) ELIS Ch#e C#ty " El#s (S"uthern 1reece)

a!sanias, Descrition o< *reece $. 23. 3 ;

.There are als" #n the 'y$nas#u$ ?at El#s altars " the '"ds, " Herales Ida#"s

(Idaean Heracles), surna$ed >arastates (C"$rade)+.

\I) *E1ALO>OLIS Ch#e C#ty " Arad#a (S"uthern 1reece)




.?At *e'al"%"l#s, Arad#a #s an encl"sure sacred t" the 1reat 1"ddesses (*e'ala#

Thea#) + + + Fy the s#de " De$eter there #s als" a Herales a&"ut a cu&#t h#'h+ Th#s

Herales, says On"$ar#t"s #n h#s %"e$, #s "ne " th"se called Ida#"# Datyl"#

(Idaean Dactyls)+.

\II) 3ear AKAKESIO3 T"wn #n Arad#a (S"uthern 1reece)


.?r"$ Aaes#"n #n Arad#a #t #s "ur stades t" the sanctuary " Des%"#ne

(Des%"ena) + + + On &"th s#des " the thr"ne ?" the '"ddess are #$a'es+ Fy the s#de

" De$eter stands Arte$#s + + + Fy the #$a'e " Des%"#ne stands Anyt"s,

re%resented as a $an #n ar$"ur+ Th"se a&"ut the sanctuary say that Des%"#ne was

&r"u'ht u% &y Anyt"s, wh" was "ne " the T#tanes ?"r K"uretes, as they are called+

The st"ry " the K"uretes (Curetes) #s re%resented under the #$a'es ?#n the

sanctuary, and that " the K"ry&antes (C"ry&antes), a d#Verent race r"$ the

K"uretes, car!ed #n rel#e u%"n the &ase, I n"w, &ut %ass the$ &y+.

\III) *YKALLESSOS \#lla'e #n F"#"t#a (Central 1reece)

a!sanias, Descrition o< *reece -. 1-. & ;

.?At *yalless#a #n F"#"t#a #s a sanctuary " *yaless#an De$eter+ They say that

each n#'h #t #s shut u% and "%ended a'a#n &y Herales, and that Herales #s "ne "

what are called Datyl"# Ida#"# (Idaean Dactyls)+.

a!sanias, Descrition o< *reece -. 27. $ ;

.The F"#"t#ans were n"t unac/ua#nted w#th th#s na$e " Herales ?a Datyl"s,

see#n' as they the$sel!es say that the sanctuary " De$eter *yaless#a has &een

entrusted t" the Datyl"# Ida#"# (Idaean Dactyls)+.

I) EUFOIA Island (Central 1reece)

The K"uretes were #$%"rtant '"ds " Eu&"#a+ The dance " the K"uretes was

%r"&a&ly #n a s#$#lar $anner t" that " Krete+

) KRETE Island (1ree Ae'ean)

The K"uretes dance was %er"r$ed &y Kretean y"uths re0enact#n' the st"ry " the

#nancy " eus+ It was an "r'#ast#c r#te, s#$#lar t" the K"ry&ant#c dances " Ky&ele #n

>hry'#a+

lato, +a@s 7-$b (trans. +amb) (*reek #iloso#er 4t# %..) ;

.3"r sh"uld we "$#t such $#$#c dances as are tt#n' "r use &y "ur ch"#rs,00"r

#nstance, the sw"rd0dance " the K"uretes (Curetes) here #n Krete (Crete), and that

" the D#"s"ur"# (D#"scur#) #n Laeda#$"nP and at Athens, t"", "ur \#r'#n0Lady

?Athena 'laddened &y the %ast#$e " the dance dee$ed #t n"t see$ly t" s%"rt w#th

e$%ty hands, &ut rather t" tread the $easure !ested #n ull %an"%ly+ These



eGa$%les #t w"uld well &ec"$e the &"ys and '#rls t" c"%y + + + al#e "r ser!#ce #n

war and "r use at est#!als+. ?I+e+ The ar$ed warr#"r dance was a eature " cults "

the K"uretes, D#"s"ur"# and Athena+

Strabo, *eogra#y 10. 4. 1$ (trans. >ones) (*reek geogra#er 1st %.. to 1st

.D.) ;.The law'#!er ?h#st"r#cal law0$aer " Krete c"$$anded the &"ys t" attend the

Tr""%s + + + he c"$$anded that r"$ &"yh""d they sh"uld 'r"w u% accust"$ed t"

ar$s and t"#ls, s" as t" sc"rn heat, c"ld, $arches "!er ru''ed and stee% r"ads, and

&l"ws rece#!ed #n 'y$nas#u$s "r re'ular &attlesP and that they sh"uld %ract#se, n"t

"nly archery, &ut als" the war0dance, wh#ch was #n!ented and $ade n"wn &y the

K"uretes (Curetes) at rst, and later, als", &y the $an wh" arran'ed the dance that

was na$ed ater h#$, I $ean the >yrrh#h"s (>yrrh#chus) dance, s" that n"t e!en

the#r s%"rts were w#th"ut a share #n act#!#t#es that were useul "r warare+.

II) SA*OTHRAKE LE*3OS Islands (1ree Ae'ean)

Cl"sely related '"ds called K"ry&antes and Ka&e#r"# were w"rsh#%%ed "n the #slands

" Le$n"s and Sa$"thrae+ H"we!er the *ystery rel#'#"n 'a!e these a $"re

d#st#nct #dent#ty and the#r "wn 'eneal"'#es+ See se%arate entr#es Ka&e#r"# and

K"ry&antes Sa$"thra#"#+

CULT OF CURETES, DACTYLS & CORYBANTES IN ANATOLIA

I) *YSIA >HRY1IA Re'#"ns " Anat"l#a

olloni!s 6#odi!s, rgona!tica 1. 1122 9 (trans. 6ie!) (*reek eic 3rd %..) ;.Then, cr"wned w#th "a0lea!ed, they ?the Ar'"nauts "n *"unt D#ndy$"n &e'an

the sacr#c#al r#tes, #n!"#n' the *"ther D#ndy$ene ?Rhea, $"st w"rsh#%ul, wh"

dwells #n >hry'#aP and w#th her, T#t#as and Kyllen"s (Cyllenus)+ "r these tw" are

s#n'led "ut as d#s%ensers " d""$ and assess"rs t" the *"ther Ida#e ?Rhea r"$

the $any Datyl"# Ida#"# (Idaean Dactyls)+.


.D.) ;

.The K"uretes (Curetes) are called Da#$"nes "r $#n#sters " '"ds + + + wh#ch are

#nterw"!en w#th certa#n sacred r#tes + + + ?such as the Or'#es (rgia) #n h"n"r " the

*"ther " the 1"ds ?Rhea0Ky&ele wh#ch are cele&rated #n >hry'#a ?#nclud#n' *ys#aand the Tr"ad and #n the re'#"n " the Tr"2an Ida + + + They re%resent the$ as a #nd

" #ns%#red %e"%le and as su&2ect t" Facch#c ren-y, and, #n the 'u#se " $#n#sters, as

#ns%#r#n' terr"r at the cele&rat#"n " the sacred r#tes &y $eans " war0dances,

acc"$%an#ed &y u%r"ar and n"#se and cy$&als and dru$s and ar$s, and als" &y

[ute and "utcry+.




.Fut as "r the Fereyntes (Ferecynt#ans), a tr#&e " >hry'#ans, and the >hry'#ans #n

'eneral, and th"se " the Tr"2ans wh" l#!e r"und Ida, they t"" h"ld Rhea #n h"n"r

and w"rsh#% her w#th "r'#es, call#n' her *"ther " the '"ds and A'd#st#s and >hry'#a

the 1reat 1"ddess, and als", r"$ the %laces where she #s w"rsh#%%ed, Ida#a and

D#ndy$ene and S#%ylene and >ess#nunt#s and Ky&ele (Cy&ele) and Ky&e&e+ The1rees use the sa$e na$e K"uretes (Curetes) "r the $#n#sters " the '"ddess, n"t

ta#n' the na$e, h"we!er, r"$ the sa$e $yth#cal st"ry, &ut re'ard#n' the$ as a

d#Verent set " K"uretes, hel%ers as #t were, anal"'"us t" the Satyr"# (Satyrs)P and

the sa$e they als" call K"ry&antes (C"ry&antes)+.

Strabo, *eogra#y 10. 3. 1- / 21 ;

.Fut the Se%s#an a'a#n states + + + that the r#tes " Rhea were n#n !"'ue + + + "nly #n

>hry'#a and the Tr"ad+.

Strabo, *eogra#y 10. 3. 1- / 21 ;

.3"w #t has s" ha%%ened that the Ka&e#r"# (Ca&e#r#) are $"st h"n"red #n I$&r"s andLe$n"s, &ut they ?"r related de#t#es such as Datyl"# are als" h"n"red #n se%arate

c#t#es " the Tr"adP the#r na$es, h"we!er, are e%t secret+.

II) HA*AITIA KORYFISSA T"wns #n the Tr"ad (Anat"l#a)

Strabo, *eogra#y 10. 3. 1- / 21 ;

.The %laces where these de#t#es ?the K"ry&antes were w"rsh#%%ed are un#nha&#ted,

&"th the K"ry&ante#"n (C"ry&anteu$) #n Ha$aG#t#a ?#n the Tr"ad #n the terr#t"ry

n"w &el"n'#n' t" the AleGandre#ans near S$#nth#"n, and K"ry&#ssa #n Se%s#a #n the

ne#'h&"rh""d " the r#!er Eure#s ?#n the Tr"ad and " the !#lla'e wh#ch &ears the

sa$e na$e and als" " the w#nter t"rrent A#thalfe#s+.

III) FEREKY3TIA T"wn #n >hry'#a (Anat"l#a)

Strabo, *eogra#y 10. 3. 1- / 21 ;

.The Se%s#an + + + c#tes als" the "%#n#"n " Stes#$&r"t"s the Thas#an that the sacred

r#tes #n Sa$"thrae were %er"r$ed #n h"n"r " the Ka&e#r"# (Ca&e#r#) and the

Se%s#an says that they were called Ka&e#r"# ater the $"unta#n Ka&e#r"s #n

Fereynt#a+.

Stati!s, "#ebaid 4. 72 9 (trans. 'o=ley) (6oman eic 1st .D.) ;

.The Ferecynt#an $"ther ?Rhea, wh#le she &#ds the Curetes lea% #n eGc#ted dance

ar"und the #nant Thunderer ?eusP the#r cy$&als clash #n e$ul"us ren-y, &ut

?*"unt Ide res"unds w#th h#s l"ud wa#l#n's+.

I\) >ESSI3OS A3KYRA C#t#es #n >hry'#a (Anat"l#a)

a!sanias, Descrition o< *reece 1. 4. & (trans. >ones) (*reek traelog!e 2nd .D.)

;



.The land ?" >ess#n"s and Anyra #n >hry'#a they dwell #n was, they say, #n anc#ent

t#$es sacred t" the Ka&e#r"# (Ca&e#r#) ?"r K"ry&antes+.

I) *T SOL*ISSOS *"unta#n #n Kar#a (Anat"l#a)


.D.) ;

.On the sa$e c"ast ?" E%hes"s, As#a *#n"r, + + + #s als" Orty'#a + + + here #s the

$yth#cal scene " the &#rth ?#+e+ Let" 'a!e &#rth t" A%"ll"n and Arte$#s here + + +

A&"!e the 'r"!e l#es *"unt S"l$#ss"s, where, #t #s sa#d, the K"uretes (Curetes)

stat#"ned the$sel!es, and w#th the d#n " the#r ar$s r#'htened Hera "ut " her w#ts

when she was 2eal"usly s%y#n' "n Let", and when they hel%ed Let" t" c"nceal r"$

Hera the &#rth " her ch#ldren ?A%"ll"n and Let" + + + A 'eneral est#!al #s held there

annuallyP and &y a certa#n cust"$ the y"uths !#e "r h"n"r, %art#cularly #n the

s%lend"r " the#r &an/uets there+ At that t#$e, als", a s%ec#al c"lle'e " the K"uretes

?y"uths wh" %er"r$ the sh#eld0classh#n' r#tes " the K"uretes h"lds sy$%"s#u$s

and %er"r$s certa#n $yst#c sacr#ces+.

NAMES OF THE CURETES, DACTYLS & CORYBANTES

1ree 3a$e Transl#terat#"n Lat#n S%ell#n' Translat#"n

g9;=7: Da$neus Da$neus Su&duer (" $etal)

g9;9=;=7: Da$na$eneus Da$na$eneus Su&duer (" $etal)

4=ij: Kel$#s Cel$#s Dr#!er On

k=ij: Sel$#s Scel$#s Dr#!er On

k7m: SythMs ScythesO Scyth#a,

Scyth#an

g=i9: Delas Delas Fa#ter

op9j5: Ida#"s Idaeus O *"unt Ida

op9: Idas Idas O *"unt Ida

q766j5: >yrrh#h"s >yrrh#chus Xar0, #re0Dance

47689: Kyr&as Cyr&as C"ry&ant#c Dance

456789: K"ry&as C"ry&as C"ry&ant#c Dance

q67;=7: >ry$neus >ry$neus Steers$an, >#l"t

j9: *#$as *#$as I$#tat"r, C"%#er



; A$vn Ac$"n An!#l, Unt#r#n'

7m55: Oyth""s Ocyth""s Sw#t0""ted

=ijxx=7: *el#sseus *el#sseus H"ney0*an

69i: HMralMs Heracles 1l"ry " A#r

q9j;9j5: >a#vna#"s >ae"neus Healer, Rel#e!er

z{jp: E%#$MdMs E%#$edes S$#l#n'

o9xj5: Ias#"s Ias#us Healer

|j<j9: T#tas T#t#as A!en'er

47ii=;5: Kyllen"s Cyllenus 00

So!rces;

o Homerica, "#e daean Dactys / *reek 8ic t#/7t# %..

o Hesiod, "#eogony / *reek 8ic t#/7t# %..

o Hesiod, Fragments / *reek 8ic t#/7t# %..

o Stasins!s or Hegesia , "#e yria / *reek 8ic 7t#/$t# %..

o "#e Homeric Hymns / *reek 8ic t#/4t# %..

o *reek +yric orinna, Fragments / *reek +yric &t# %..

o *reek +yric "erander, Fragments / *reek +yric 7t# %..

o *reek +yric "#aletas, Fragments / *reek +yric 7t# %..

o *reek +yric %acc#ylides, Fragments / *reek +yric &t# %..

o 8!riides, %acc#ae / *reek "ragedy &t# %..

o lato, +a@s / *reek #iloso#y 4t# %..

o ollodor!s, "#e +ibrary / *reek 'yt#ogra#y 2nd .D.

o olloni!s 6#odi!s, "#e rgona!tica / *reek 8ic 3rd %..

o allimac#!s, Hymns / *reek oetry 3rd %..

http://www.theoi.com/Bibliography.html

http://www.theoi.com/Bibliography.html



o allimac#!s, Fragments / *reek oetry 3rd %..

o Diodor!s Sic!l!s, "#e +ibrary o< History / *reek History 1st %..

o Strabo, *eogra#y / *reek *eogra#y 1st %.. / 1st .D.

o a!sanias, Descrition o< *reece / *reek "raelog!e 2nd .D.

o ian, ynegetica / *reek oetry 3rd .D.

o Hygin!s, Fab!lae / +atin 'yt#ogra#y 2nd .D.

o id, Fasti / +atin oetry 1st %.. / 1st .D.

o irgil, *eorgics / +atin %!colic 1st %..

o liny t#e 8lder, at!ral History / +atin 8ncycloedia 1st .D.

o Stati!s, "#ebaid / +atin 8ic 1st .D.

o onnos, Dionysiaca / *reek 8ic &t# .D.

o S!idas / %y=antine *reek +eBicon 10t# .D.

t#er re<erences not c!rrently !oted #ere; 8!riides %acc#ae 1205 Dionysi!s o<

Halicarnass!s &.&&.1/2, &.$0.2, &.$4.3, &.$&.1

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