Dactyl (mythology)

The Idaean dactyls (Greek Δάκτυλοι Ἰδαῖοι Daktyloi Idaioi ) were in Greek mythology, demon -like figures, to whom the discovery and first processing of iron and copper is attributed.

When her home was the Ida mountains in Phrygia, where they were in the service of the Great Mother ( Rhea Cybele ) and consequently with the Curetes and Corybantes together as well as with the Samothracian Kabiri and the Telchines were mixed. Also on the Ida of Crete they were transferred.

The name is variously explained dactyls; most likely it refers to the craftsmanship of these metallurgical spirits of the forest mountain range.

The Phrygian dactyls identifies three:

• Calamine (supposedly " Schmelzer ")
• Damnameneus ( "Hammer" )
• AKMON ( " anvil ").

In Crete there were five or ten or a hundred.

That the dactyls were also knowledgeable for wizards and secret forces of nature, is easily explained; also were thought to be the inventor of all manner of useful arts, such as the musical sound and the clock, including the art of forging gave instructions by themselves.