On the eastern side of Mount Idi or Psiloritis (78km from Rethymno and 24km from Anogia in Mylopotamos) lies, according to Greek mythology, Zeus's birthplace or the place where Rhea hid her son in order not to be devoured by his father, Kronos. According to mythology, an oracle said that the son of Kronos and Rhea will take power from the greatest god of all, Kronos. Trying to avoid the impletion of the oracle, Kronos used to swallow all the children he had with Rhea. Rhea, however, wanting to protect little Zeus, hid him in the cave, where he grew up with the milk of the mythic goat Amalthia and the care of the nymph Melissa. Whenever little Zeus wept, the Curetes banged loudly their shields with their swords, so as not to be heard the cries of the newborn god. The cave was a place of worship in the antiquity, while it is said that this is where the initiation of major philosophers, such as Pythagoras and Epimenidis, used to take place. Several references in Ideon Andron have been found both in the writings of Epimenidis and Plato. Its great archaeological significance is highlighted by rich findings such as jewelry, ceramics, tools, as well as bronze shields with depictions of Curetes hitting their shields. Last but not least, Ideon Andron is also named the Cave of the Shepherdess (Spiliara tis Voskopoulas).