Modern understanding of Greek mythology mythology to the still poorly understood pre-Hellenic societies of Greece, such as the Minoans and so-called Pelasgians. This is especially true in the case of chthonic deities and mother goddesses. Historians of religion were fascinated by a number of apparently ancient configurations of myth connencted with Crete: the god as bull — Zeus and Europa; Pasiphaë who yields to the bull and gives birth to the Minotaur; agrarian mysteries with a sacred marriage (Demeter's union with Iasion) etc. Crete, Mycenae, Pylos, Thebes and Orchomenus figure so large in later Greek mythology. For some, the three main generations of gods in
Postage stamps and postal history of Crete On February 1881 as Crete was still part of Ottoman Empire, Greek post offices opened in the three big cities of the island, Chania, Rethymnon and Herakleion. These Greek post offices were consulate departments and they operated until the end of 1881, just for eight or nine months, using Greek stamps (Large Hermes Heads). Due to the very short period that these services operated in Crete, the postal items, stamps and especially letters, are very rare. Crete became part of Greece in 1913 and Greek stamps have been used on the island since then. Remaining Cretan stamps were overprinted and