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
Miletus (mythology) Miletus (mythology) Miletus (Ancient Greek: Μίλητος) was a character from Greek mythology. According to Robert Graves, Miletus' name tentatively suggests "red earth" "miltos" referring to the fact that Cretans had a complexion that was redder than that of the Greeks. Miletus was son of Apollo and Areia, nymph-daughter of Cleochus, of Crete. His mother in other accounts was Acacallis, a daughter of Minos who consorted with Apollo. Yet another source calls Miletus' mother Deione, and himself by the matronymic Deionides. Finally, one source gives Miletus as the son of Euxantius, himself son of Minos by a Telchinian woman Dexithea. Miletus