The Curetes are Greek warriors who, in the cave of Mount Ida in Crete, covered the crying of the infant Zeus with the noise of their shields so that Kronos would not hear and devour him.
| Type | Group (warriors) |
| Spanish entry | Los Curetes |
Description
They are shown as seven warriors in a circle in the cave, round shields raised, spears striking bronze, red plumes and Corinthian helmets, dust rising like inverted smoke. The cartouche reads ΟΙ ΚΟΥΡΗΤΕΣ — ΠΡΟΣΤΑΤΑΙ ΤΟΥ ΔΙΟΣ, with the motto “Ἠχέτω ἡ ἀσπίς. Κροτείτω τὸ δόρυ. Ζεὺς μέγας γενήται.” (“Let the shield resound. Let the spear strike. Let Zeus grow great.“)
Their rite was rhythmic spear-on-shield beating and a circular dance around the invisible cradle, while the goat Amaltea nursed the child. The archive files it as the first documented case of protection by sonic concealment.
In the descent
At the opening of the descent (Inferno), the chronicler, as speaker, recalls their rite: the company enters the Third Circle under a similar shelter. Maristo remarks that Arian has another view of the Titans and of the misunderstandings of the Greek record.