The story begins two generations before the Trojan War when the
child Anthêdôn (Rejoicing in Flowers) was born to the Minôs
(Ruler) of Crete (who had come from Skuthia, i.e. Scythia) by
bull-loving Pasiphaê (All-illuminating), a daughter of the Moon
and Sun (that is, Hêlios, also called Phaethôn, Illuminating).
One day the child went into a cave used to store hydromel
(mead), which was the sacred drink before Dionysos gave us wine.
In innocent ignorance he drowned himself in the liquor, but
nobody knew what had happened to him. Therefore the Minôs sent
for the Kourêtes (Curetes), who were known as great seers
(manteis), and they told him that whoever could best describe
Minôs' miraculous cow would be able to restore Anthêdôn alive to
him. This cow changed colors every four hours: from the black of
chaotic night, to the pure white of day, to the vital red of
blood, then back to black again. So Minôs had all the diviners
in the land brought together, and the Kourêtes judged the best
description to be that of a