In
Greek mythology, the
Dactyls (from
Greek Δάκτυλοι "
fingers") were the archaic mythical race of small
phallic male beings associated with the
Great Mother, whether as
Cybele or
Rhea. Their numbers vary, but often they were ten spirit-men so like the three
Curetes, the
Cabiri or the
Korybantes that they were often interchangeable. The Dactyls were both ancient smiths and healing magicians. In some myths, they are in
Hephaestus' employ, and they taught metalworking, mathematics, and the alphabet to humans.