Europa
Mythological Greek Maiden One popular Greek myth tells of Europa, a beautiful princess, daughter of a legendary king of Tyre. One early spring morning, Europa summoned two of her young companions to go walking in the meadows near the sea. They brought baskets to collect the beautiful
spring flowers that were at their height. As the young women wandered happily in the meadow, Zeus looked down from the sky and saw the beautiful sight. Although all the women were lovely, Europa stood out among them. As Zeus watched, Cupid shot one of his shafts into Zeus’s heart, and he fell madly in love with the maiden.
Even though his wife, Hera, was away, Zeus thought it best to approach the girl cautiously. Zeus changed into a bull and appeared in the meadow. This was not an ordinary bull, but one more beautiful than had ever been seen before: He was a bright chestnut color with a silver circle
on his brow and horns like the crescent of the young moon. He seemed so gentle that the women were not frightened of him but instead gathered around to pet him. As he approached Europa, he lowed so musically that the sound was more beautiful than any flute. He lay down before her feet and seemed to encourage her to ride him.
Smiling, Europa sat on his back and called her companions to join her. Before they could, however,
the bull leaped up and charged at full speed to the seashore. He leaped up and galloped above the water accompanied by sea nymphs riding on dolphins. Poseidon, too, appeared to escort the bull. Europa was frightened and clung to the bull’s horn, but she knew this must be a god. She pleaded with the bull, begging him not to leave her in some strange place all alone. He finally spoke to her and told her he was Zeus, the greatest of the gods, and that he loved her. He said he was taking her to the island of Crete, where she would bear him sons. It happened as Zeus had said. They landed in Crete, where Zeus took his new bride. She bore him three sons, Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Sarpedon.
Zeus gave her three gifts: Talos, which was either a human or a bronze robot that guarded the coasts of Crete; a hunting dog that never let any prey escape; and a hunting spear that never missed its mark. Zeus then married her to the king of Crete, Asterion, who adopted her sons. Europa was worshiped in Crete as a goddess, and the bull whose form Zeus had taken became a constellation and was included among the signs of the Zodiac. Her story may have been a Greek invention to explain the bull-leaping ritual found in Crete. The story has always been a popular one with artists, and many through modern times have illustrated the capture or “rape” of Europa.
spring flowers that were at their height. As the young women wandered happily in the meadow, Zeus looked down from the sky and saw the beautiful sight. Although all the women were lovely, Europa stood out among them. As Zeus watched, Cupid shot one of his shafts into Zeus’s heart, and he fell madly in love with the maiden.
Even though his wife, Hera, was away, Zeus thought it best to approach the girl cautiously. Zeus changed into a bull and appeared in the meadow. This was not an ordinary bull, but one more beautiful than had ever been seen before: He was a bright chestnut color with a silver circle
on his brow and horns like the crescent of the young moon. He seemed so gentle that the women were not frightened of him but instead gathered around to pet him. As he approached Europa, he lowed so musically that the sound was more beautiful than any flute. He lay down before her feet and seemed to encourage her to ride him.
Smiling, Europa sat on his back and called her companions to join her. Before they could, however,
the bull leaped up and charged at full speed to the seashore. He leaped up and galloped above the water accompanied by sea nymphs riding on dolphins. Poseidon, too, appeared to escort the bull. Europa was frightened and clung to the bull’s horn, but she knew this must be a god. She pleaded with the bull, begging him not to leave her in some strange place all alone. He finally spoke to her and told her he was Zeus, the greatest of the gods, and that he loved her. He said he was taking her to the island of Crete, where she would bear him sons. It happened as Zeus had said. They landed in Crete, where Zeus took his new bride. She bore him three sons, Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Sarpedon.
Zeus gave her three gifts: Talos, which was either a human or a bronze robot that guarded the coasts of Crete; a hunting dog that never let any prey escape; and a hunting spear that never missed its mark. Zeus then married her to the king of Crete, Asterion, who adopted her sons. Europa was worshiped in Crete as a goddess, and the bull whose form Zeus had taken became a constellation and was included among the signs of the Zodiac. Her story may have been a Greek invention to explain the bull-leaping ritual found in Crete. The story has always been a popular one with artists, and many through modern times have illustrated the capture or “rape” of Europa.
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