Motorcycle Explorer Jan 2017 Issue 15 | Page 29

Editor's Factoid Mythology has it that it was in a cave on Crete that the goddess Rhea hid the newborn Zeus. In that cave, Zeus was brought up by the nymphs while the demonical Kouretes would strike their shields loudly so that Cronus would not hear the crying of the baby Zeus and eat him. It was also on Crete that Zeus, disguised as a bull, took Europa so that they may enjoy their love together. They produced a son, Minos, who ruled Crete and turned it into a mighty island empire of the seas. In Minoan times, even Attica would pay a tribute tax to Crete, until Theseus, the Athenian prince, killed the Minotaur.