Who gave the Europeans their name?

Who gave the Europeans their name? Who kidnapped and gently raped this fair maiden of the East, Anatolia Major? In history and Greek mythology Europa is the woman for whom the continent of Europe is named. There are two primary legends regarding Europa; in one, she is seduced by the god Zeus (who takes her to Crete); in the other, she is kidnapped by Minoans, who also take her to Crete.
"As Europa spoke the bull gently rose, and then suddenly plunged into the sea carrying Europa with him. The sea calmed before the onrushing god and his bride to be. Long rows of dolphin-mounted nereids, from the older sea dynasty of Oceanus, and Tethys, escorted the godly wedding train through the sea. Tritons, of the younger sea dynasty of Neptune and Amphitrite, sounded marriage-music on their long tapered conch shells. Jupiter and Europa finally came ashore at Gortyna, on the southern coast of Crete. There Jupiter cast off his form of a bull, prepared a wedding bed beneath a simple cypress tree, and thereon consumated his love for the fair Europa."

Mavi Boncuk |

The painting above, "The Rape of Europa",TBD by Titian, shows Jupiter the bull carrying a clearly distressed Europa through the sea.

The Myth of Jupiter and Europa

Europa and her friends were at the meadow by the sea, happily gathering wild flowers on a mild Spring day. Europa was the beautiful Phoenician princess, daughter of the king of Tyre, Agenor.

Anyway, Zeus (Roman name: Jupiter, sometimes Jove) seen her and lusted for her. So he had his son Hermes (Roman name: Mercury ) drive the herd of Agenor towards the sea shore where the young girls were playing. Zeus changed into a magnificent white bull, and mingled with the herd

The beautiful bull, who was Zeus, stood out from the rest of the herd, and the young girls, especially Europa, could not take their eyes off him, he was so majestic, so noble, so gentle, so beautiful.

This great creature ambled over and knelt by Europa, lowering his head gently, inviting her to stroke him. Europa put garlands of flowers, on neck and horns. Europa was enchanted and thought there was no more regal or gentle bull in all the world.

Europa climbed on to his back. The bull took off and dove into the sea and carried Europa to the island of Crete, Transformed back into Zeus, and seduced her beneath a cypress tree.

Europa was the first queen of Crete and had three sons by Zeus. Europa became the mother of King Minos. Zeus reproduced the shape of Zeus's white bull in the stars. as the constellation Taurus.

Europa's brother Cadmus had to find and return his sister which led him to be the founder of the Greek city of Thebes. A dragon killed everyone, but Cadmus killed the dragon (prompted by the goddess Athena) sowed its teeth, and armed men sprang up from the earth became the original inhabitants of Thebes. Cadmus, their king, taught the alphabet and the art of writing and Cilix the other brother gave his name to Cilicia in Asia Minor..