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
Zakynthos (mythology) Zakynthos (mythology) In Greek mythology, Zakynthos or Zacynthus (Ancient Greek: Ζάκυνθος) was a Psophidian who became the founder of a colony in the island of Zacynthus, which derived its name from him. The name, like all similar names ending in -nthos, is pre-Mycenaean or Pelasgian in origin. Zacynthus was the son of the legendary Arcadian chief Dardanus by his wife Bateia, daughter of Teucer. He was the brother of Erichthonius and probably, Ilus and Idaea. Zacynthus was first man to sail across the island opposite the coast of Elis and became its first settler which was afterwards called Zakynthos after