Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 2.djvu/187

 B. x. c. in. 7- THE CURETES. 179 name of Curetes from the mountain Curium, 1 which is situated above Pleuron, and that this is an JEtolian tribe, like the Ophieis, Agrsei, Eurytanes, and many others. But, as we have before said, when JEtolia was divided into two parts, the country about Calydon was said to be in the possession of CEneus ; and a portion of Pleuronia in that of the Porthaonidse of the branch of Agrius, 2 for " they dwelt at Pleuron, and the lofty Calydon." 3 Thestius however, father-in-law of CEneus, and father of Althcea, chief of the Curetes, was master of Pleuronia. But when war broke out between the Thestiadae, CEneus, and Meleager about a boar's head and skin, according to the poet, 4 following the fable concerning the boar of Calydon, but, as is probable, the dispute related to a portion of the territory ; the words are these, " Curetes and JEtolians, firm in battle, fought against one another." 5 These then are the facts more immediately connected (with geography). 7. There 6 are others more remote from the subject of this 1 The position of this mountain is not determined. 2 CEneus and his children were themselves Porthaonidae. CEneus had possession only of Calydon, his brother Agrius and his children had a part of Pleuronia. Thestius, cousin-german of CEneus and of Agrius, re- ceived as his portion the remainder of Pleuronia and transmitted it to his children, (the Thestiadae,) who probably succeeded in gaining possession of the whole country. The Porthaonidae of the branch of Agrius, were Thersites, Onchestus, Prothous, Celeulor, Lycopeiis, and Melanippus. Apollodorus, b. i. c. 7, 8. 3 II. xiv. 117. 4 II. ix. 544. 5 II. ix. 525. 6 " Cette digression est curieuse, sans doute * * * * Plusieurs cri- tiques ont fait de ce morceau 1'objet deleur elude ; neanmoins il demeure herissd de difficultes, et dernierement M. Heyne (quel juge!) a pro- nonce que tout y restait a eclaircir. Du Theil. The myths relating to the Curetes abound with different statements and confusion. The following are the only points to be borne in mind. The Curetes belong to the most ancient times of Greece, and probably are to be counted among the first inhabitants of Phrygia. They were the authors and expositors of certain religious rites, which they celebrated with dances. According to mythology they played a part at the birth of Jupiter. They were sometimes called Idaean Dactyli. Hence their name was given to the ministers of the worship of the Great Mother among the Phrygians, which was celebrated with a kind of religious frenzy. The Curetes were also called Corybantes. Hence also arose the confusion between the religious rites observed in Crete, Phrygia, and N 2