THE CRETANS

THE NAME OF THE CRETANS

According to the ancient writers Pafsanias (Iliaka), Stravon (Geographics 10), Diodoros (Book 4 and 5), etc., initially the Cretans were named “Idaioi dactylae” or “Couretes”. Couretes (Greek Kourites, is derived from the words Kouri, korasia, epi-koro = Latin curio) etc., were the young Cretan people who nourished (cared for the infant’s upbringing and well being) Zeus and subsequently all Cretans. Consequently the name “Krites” = Cretans, derived from the name C(ou)retans, as it is concluded from mythology. Crete was the daughter of one of ...

the Couretans and wife of Zeus. (For more see the book: “Cretan History”, A. Krassanakis)

4. KING MINOAS AND THE MINOAN CIVILIZATION (CULTURE)

THE CRETAN STATE AND  KING MINOAS

King Minoas and his brother Radamanthys are the reason that civilization (culture) spread and flourished in Greece. They are the founders, organizers and creators of the Eminent Cretan State, which was copied by all Greeks and thus were civilized, but also the founders and implementers of maritime activities (sea-faring), Cretans whose maritime martial navy drove away the undesirable elements (thieves, renegades, pirates, and others) and opened-up the marine corridors and thus enabling the Greeks to commute by sea, engage in marine activities, to gain wealth and prosper, and to prevail. For this reason they are admired by all Greeks.

THE MINOAN CIVILIZATION IS THE FIRST AMONG THE GREEK CULTURES

AND THE FIRST CIVILIZATION CREATED IN HUMAN HISTORY

According to the Pario chronicle and the ancient writers: Plato (Laws, Minoas), Plutarch (Lykourgos 4-7, Solon 12 - 20), D. Laertios (Epimenides), Aristotle (Politics B, 1271, 10), Stravon (Geographics I, IV, C 481 - 483,17 - 20), Herodotus (A 65), Isocrates (Panathenaikos) and others, report that:

1) When Minoas became king of the Achaean and Dorian Cretans in the island of Crete with the help of his brother Radamanthys, he united (unified) the cities and races of all Crete (Eteocretans, Kydonians, Pelasgeans, Achaeans and Dorians) into a single, totally comprehensive societal unit, and organized in a highly unusual way for this period in history the institutions of the State, the “Eminent Cretan State” (or "Confederation of the Cretans") which subsequently was copied by all Greeks and thus they became civilized and progressed. Capital (Seat) of the united kingdom for the Cretan State was designated the city of Knossos.

2) The state of the Cretans created by Minoas and Radamanthys was later copied first by the Spartans and shortly thereafter by the Athenians. The Spartans for this purpose sent to Crete the legislator (lawmaker) Lykourgos and reciprocally invited to come to Sparta the lawmaker and poet Thaletas of Knossos.

The Athenians for the same  purpose also sent to Crete their legislator (lawmaker) Solon and reciprocally invited to come to Athens the Cretan Wiseman, Epimenides.

3) During Minoa’s reign came the Kares and Phoenicians and occupied the islands of the Aegean that up to that time were uninhabited and henceforth committing crimes and pillages against the Greeks. Under these circumstances, Minoas conceives and creates a maritime, martial navy, the first such naval force in the world, and uses it to drive away from the islands of the Aegean the criminal Kares and Phoenicians. As a result of the above-mentioned actions, Minoas becomes master of the seas, frees up the marine corridors and thus enables the Greeks to commute by sea, to trade amongst themselves, to deal with naval activities and marine type of work, to gain wealth and to establish cities (permanent residence for the people he brought to the islands from Crete, which before could not be done because of the predatory, piratical and criminal activities of the thieves, renegades and pirates who lived there).
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