After them, Tectamus (son of Dorus ₁, son of Hellen ₁, son of Deucalion ₁, the man who survived the Flood) sailed to Crete with Aeolians and Pelasgians, and became king of the island. During his reign, Zeus carried off Europa from Phoenicia. Tectamus' son Asterius ₃ married Europa and inherited the kingdom, being himself succeeded on the throne by Minos ₁, son of Zeus and Europa.

Minos ₁ was succeeded by his son Lycastus ₁, and the latter by his famous son Minos ₂, who some call son of Zeus and Europa. The architectural creations of Daedalus (the Labyrinth, the Wooden Cow, the Dancing-floor for Ariadne) are from the age of Minos ₂.

He waged war against Athens and Megara, imposing tribute to the former, and conquering the latter through the treason of the daughter of King Nisus ₁. But during his reign, the power of Crete decayed, and Theseus slew the Minotaur and abducted Ariadne, being helped by Daedalus. Minos ₂ died in Sicily, where he had come looking for the traitor Daedalus, killed by King Cocalus or by the latter's daughters.

Minos ₂ was succeeded by Idomeneus ₁, who became leader of the Cretans during the Trojan War. At his return from Troy, however, he was prevented to land on the Crete, or driven out of the island by the usurper Leucus ₁.

Throne Succession Crete