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Then he rejoiced as a lover and, while he looked forward to hoped for
Pleasures, he slobbered all over her hands, and could hardly postpone the
Joys that remained. So he frolicked and bounded about on the green grass,
Laying his snowy-white flanks on the yellowish sands. As her fear was
Little by little diminished, he offered his chest for her virgin
Hand to caress and his horns to be decked with fresh flowers. The royal
Maiden, not knowing on whom she was sitting, was even so bold as
Also to climb on the back of the bull. As the god very slowly
Inched from the shore and the dry land he planted his spurious footprints
Deep in the shallows. Thus swimming out farther, he carried his prey off
Into the midst of the sea. Almost fainting with terror she glanced back,
As she was carried away, at the shore left behind. As she gripped one
Horn in her right hand while clutching the back of the beast with the other,
Meanwhile her fluttering draperies billowed behind on the sea breeze.”

3 The myth of Europa, background information

The story of Europa is interesting and the end is surprisingly good, in contrast to the usual tragic
endings of the Greek myths. This myth is about a beautiful girl who was abducted and then seduced
by Zeus, the chief of the Gods. This concept is pretty usual in the Greek mythology. What is less
usual that this girl gave her name to the whole continent of Europe. Her story has been particularly
popular and has been depicted in many ancient pieces of ceramics and coins. Moreover, it touched
the painters of Renaissance, who created many impressive and inspired pictures having the myth as
their theme. Nowadays, it is depicted in the 2-euro coin of the European Union to honour the
Godmother of Europe. There are many versions of the myth, most of which deal with a divine union
between a young girl and Zeus. The most popular version says that she was the daughter of Agenor,
a Phoenician king, and later became a wife of Zeus, the King of Gods. According to the legend,
Europa was the epitome of feminine beauty on Earth. Zeus once saw her on the seashore of
Phoenicia playing with her friends. He was so captivated by her beauty that he fell in love with her
and developed a strong desire to possess her. Immediately, he took the form of a white bull and
approached her. The bull looked wonderful with its snow-white body and gem-like horns. Europa
looked at the extraordinary animal curiously and dared to touch him because he appeared so calm.
Later, she was somehow motivated to climb on his back. As soon as she did so, Zeus ran to the sea
and carried her all the way from Phoenicia to the island of Crete. There he regained his human form
and mated with her under an evergreen tree. This was the abduction of Europa, who later gave
birth to three sons of Zeus, Minos, Rhadamanthys and Sarpedon. These sons were known for their
fairness and when they died became the three judges of the Underworld. In fact, Minos founded
the town of Knossos and gave his name to an entire civilization, the Minoan civilization. Zeus loved
Europa so much that he showered her with three priceless gifts. The first one was a bronze man,
Talos, who served as a guard. He was the bronze giant that the Argonauts met and killed in their
attempt to shore on Crete. The second was a dog, Laelaps, which could hunt anything she wanted.
The last one was a javelin that had the power to always hit the target.

Europa was later married to one of the kings of Crete, Asterius, who adopted her sons and made
her the first queen of Crete. Meanwhile, her father, Agenor, had ordered her brothers to cross the
whole world and not to return until they found his precious daughter. Europa had four brothers.
Cilix, his eldest brother, searched for a long time but with no success. He ended up in a region in