Cook, Arthur B.: Zeus: a study in ancient religion (Band 1): Zeus god of the bright sky (Cambridge, 1914)

The Labyrinth at Knossos 473

Herodotos speaks of its twelve courts as a memorial of the dodec-
archy1. Strabon calls it ' a vast palace composed of as many
palaces as there were formerly nomes,' and states that the nomes
were accustomed to assemble in their respective courts ' with their
own priests and priestesses for sacrifice, oblation, and judicial award
on matters of importance2.' . Diodoros thinks it the 'tomb' of the
king who built it3, as does Manethon4. Pliny says: ' Different

Fig. 329.

interpretations are put upon the construction of this edifice.
Demoteles takes it to have been the palace of Moteris; Lykeas,
the tomb of Moiris. Most authorities suppose that it was reared
as a building sacred to the Sun, and such is the common belief5.'

With regard to the Cretan Labyrinth too very various opinions
have been advanced6. Nowadays most scholars hold that Sir

1 Hdt. 2. 148. 2 Strab. 8ri. 3 Diod. r. 61.

4 Maneih. frags. 34—36 {Frag. hist. Gr. ii. 560 Miiller).

5 Demoteles frag. I {Frag. hist. Gr. iv. 386 Miiller) and Lykeas Naukratites frag. 1
{Frag. hist. Gr. iv. 441 Miiller) ap. Plin. nat. hist. 36. 84.

6 See Roscher Lex. Myth. ii. 1778—1783.