The Irish standard., 1897-03-06
Of TIE Island OF CRETE.
Famous i'm the History of the
World for Stirring Deeds OF
Valor and Romance.
JUPITER WAS BORN IN THE ISLAND.
-------------------------
Many interesting Legends in Con-
rection with the Little
Territory.
JUPITER WAS BORN IN THE ISLAND.

The disturbances in Crete have drawn
the attention of the world once again to
that historic island. The indications
point to rather .erious war, and little
Crete may be in the public eye for some
time to come. The result of the action
Of Greece in supporting the Christians
CT the island in their revolt against the
hutchery of Turkey is awaited with in
tense interest by all students of interna-
tional affairs.
The total population Of Crete is 49,
1G5. Of these 2o5,010 are orthodox
Greeks The Catholic church has but
little hold in the island. From the year
1859, when the Venetians, brayely fight
Ing, were forced to withdraw, until 1877,
there was no sem Mance of a hierarchy
in the island in union with the church
Of Rome In 1877 Plus TX. erected it
into Il separate administration. 1t Is
now in the nands Of the Capuchin Faith
ers, who are active in missionary labors
In the islands of the archipelago. There
were in 1890, 600 Catholics in Crete and
one administrator the venerable Fra
Ange- Marie, who was appointed to the
charge OF ecclesiastical affairs seven
years ago. Five Franciscan fathers *,
assist him Five nuns look after the OF
phan asylum ar teach the children OF
whom IS attend the five schools. Crete
is The diocese Of Smyrna in Asia, and as
far as Rome Is concerned Is practically
stagnant.
During the massacre Of the Oath of last
May, the Capuchin church and the
schools and convent of the mission was
tie place Of refuge for the terrified Gre
tans of Gambia. The fathers and nuns,
foreigners under the protection of a for
eien flag, took in these refugees and
maintained them for several days. The
presence of several vessels of war be-
longing to France, England and Italy,
stayed the massacre then, and to the
doors Of the Franciscan hostelry the
commanders Of the warships sent album
aant rations Of food until the stress of
the coinmction was Lassed.
Like it's Hellenic champion, the island
of Crete is famous in ancient history
and in mythology The Cretans claim
the island to be the birthplace of the
god Jupiter, who was supposed to be
taken care of by shepherd on Mount
Ida and to be the parent of most of the
gods worshipped in Greece as O]ympian
deities.
Bot passing from the region Of pure
mythology to the semi-mythic or heroic
age we find almost all the legends
grouped around the name of N1inos. 1t
was supposed that this celebrated semi
mythical legislator was the son Of the
god Jupiter and Europa (from wAom the
continent. of Europe takes it's name),
and It was from Jupiter that Minos was
presumed to have derived the wisdom
which enabled him to give the Cretans
the excellent system Of laws and govern
ment that earned for him the reputation
OF the greatest legislator Of antiquity
even among the continental Greeks. At
The same time he was the first monarch
who established naval power and ac-
quired dominion over the sea. This
seems to have been accepted as an I'M
doubted fact by Thucydides, celebrated
Greek classic writer.
1t is certain that from Homer's allu-
sions to the Cretans they appear as a
seafaring race, and were the only peo-
pie who attempted at an early date to
compete with the Phoenicians as bold
and adventurous navigators. The posi-
ton of their island would give them
great facilities for commerce with
Phoenicia and Egypt.
According to tradition, the laws Of Ly-
curgus in Sparta were copied to GER
tain extent from those Of Minos in Crete
Perhaps 1t was owing to the natural
bond Of racial and legislative unity that
the Cretans figured in the Trogan war,
whittier they were led under their king,
( 1domeneus, who was said to be the
!. grandson Of Minos. a.
The return sof Idomeneus and his re-
1 pulsion from Crete are beautifully de-
y ssiicrlbed =in Fenelon's celebrated classic
so he Ielenaaque.
fN ~ !. II