If you think that the capital of Crete Heraklion is named after the demigod Heracles, famous for his 12 labors, then you are mistaken!

The island’s capital is named after Heracles the Curete, one the mythical warriors who protected the infant Zeus. According to Strabo, ancient historian and geographer, there were five Curetes. They were brothers, born as demonic creatures directly from the Cretan ground.

It is believed that the name of the island itself – Κρήτη (Crete) – comes from those Κουρέτες (Curetes). So, it is not for nothing that they are called the first inhabitants of Crete and the creators of the first civilization on the island.

They made their first invention in the cave where Zeus was born. The supreme god Kronos, his father, ruled the earth and the sky; and to protect the newborn from Kronos’ wrath, the baby was placed “between heaven and earth”—in a handling cradle!

Kronos was afraid of the prophecy that on of his children would overthrow him and swallowed them one bey one. Kronos’ wife, the goddess Rhea, pregnant with Zeus, not wanting to lose her last child, gave birth to him in a deep cave in Crete, hid the baby there and gave Kronos a stone to swallow. According to the myth, it was the Curetes who raised an unimaginable noise to drown out the cries of the newborn and thus save him from his father. But their merits are not limited to the main and most powerful Olympian god’s upbringing and care of his future. They taught the islanders to hunt, domesticate animals and… dance passionately. It is believed that the Cretan pentozali, maleviziotikos and pedichtos stem the pyrrhic dance (weapon dance) of the Curetes.

About traditional Cretan dances see the link at: https://thenewgreece.com/unknown-crete/traditional-cretan-dances/

According to a legend, the Curetes brothers were also the forefathers of the Olympic Games. Once, having left Crete and relaxing in nature in Olympia, the brothers competed in strength and agility. As a joke, the head of the eldest brother, Hercules, who had beaten everyone in the race, was decorated with a wreath of wild olive. Then Hercules decided to hold similar competitions every five years—in honor of five brothers.

Strictly speaking, this version of the origin of the Olympic Games is only one of many: a situation where myths contradict each other is completely normal for the Greeks. However, Olympia on the Peloponnese peninsula was an ancient sanctuary; and it quite possible that the first Olympic competition here continued the traditions of early inhabitants of Crete.

 

The ancient city of Heraklion has changed its name many times—Khandak, Megalo-Kastro, Candia. In 1831, it returned to its first name given in the Minoan time when it was a harbor of Knossos.