2. A Cretan, who, together with Aegolius, Celeus, and Cerberus, entered the sacred cave of
bees in Crete, in order to steal honey. They succeeded in their crime, but perceived the
cradle of the infant Zeus, and that instant their brazen armour broke to pieces. Zeus
thundered, and wanted to kill them by a flash of lightning; but the Moerae and Themis
prevented him, as no one was allowed to be killed on that sacred spot, whereupon the thieves
were metamorphosed into birds. (