The parastathentes, for this is the name which they give to those youths who have been carried away, enjoy certain honours. At races and at festivals they have the principal places. They are permitted to wear the stole, which distinguishes them from other persons, and which has been presented to them by their lovers; and not only at that time, but in mature age, they appear in a distinctive dress, by which each individual is recognised as Kleinos, for this name is given to the object of their attachment, and that of Philetor to the lover.
These then are the usages respecting attachments.
22. They elect ten Archons. On matters of highest moment they have recourse to the counsel of the Gerontes, as they are called. They admit into this council those who have been thought worthy of the office of Cosmi, and who were otherwise persons of tried worth.
I considered the form of government among the Cretans as worthy of description, on account both of its peculiarity and its fame. Few of these institutions are now in existence, and the administration of affairs is chiefly conducted according to the orders of the Romans, as is the case also in their other provinces.
1. The islands about Crete are Thera,[819] the capital of the Cyrenæans, and a colony of the Lacedæmonians; and near Thera is Anaphe,[820] in which is the temple of Apollo Ægletes. Callimachus speaks of it in one place, thus,
“And Æglete Anaphe, close to the Lacedæmonian Thera;”
“Mother of my country, celebrated for its fine breed of horses.”
Thera is a long island, about 200 stadia in circumference. It lies opposite to the island Dia,[821] towards the Cnossian Heracleium. It is distant about 700 stadia from Crete. Near it are Anaphe and Therasia.[822] The little island Ios[823] is distant from the latter about 100 stadia. Here according to some authors the poet Homer was buried.[824] In going from Ios towards the west are Sicenus[825] and Lagusa,[826] and Pholegandrus,[827] which Aratus calls the iron island, on account of its rocks. Near these islands is Cimolus,[828] whence is obtained the Cimolian earth. From Cimolus Siphnus[829] is visible. To this island is applied the proverb, “a Siphnian bone (astragalus),” on account of its insignificance. Still nearer, both to Cimolus and Crete, is Melos,[830] more considerable than these. It is distant from the Hermionic promontory, the Scyllæum,[831] 700 stadia, and nearly as many from the Dictynnæan promontory. The Athenians formerly despatched an army to Melos,[832] and put to death the inhabitants from youth upwards.