The ‘Seize’ of Europe

Europe was a Very beautiful girl. She was the daughter of the king Aginor in ancient Finicky - a country in Asia – in present day Lebanon. She was famous for her beauty. People were curious to see who would be the lucky man to marry her.

Zeus was the king of Gods. He lived on mount Olympus in Greece.
One day, Europe went to the country to have fun with her friends. After they had played and picked flowers, Europe went to rest by the sea. It was so calm and beautiful that she was totally adsorbed by the view. Suddenly, she turned around and saw a white bull sleeping on the beach by her side. It was a pure white beautiful bull.
In the beginning she got frightened as she hadn’t seen or heard the animal coming. But she soon got calm again, as the animal was so beautiful and calm she started stroking it and playing with it. The bull looked pleased and happy and didn’t move at all. So Europe was encouraged and went on playing with ‘her little pet’, she even climbed on his back.
It was then that the bull stood up. The girl thought that she could ride the bull to the palace and give it to her father. She thought he would be so happy to have such a beautiful animal in his folks.
She slightly hit him with her feet. To her surprise the bull changed direction and headed to the sea. She was afraid, she called for help but no luck! When the bull got into the sea, she thought she would be drawn.
But…….no! What a relief! The bull was swimming fast and beautifully!
How? Why? It was simple; the taurus/bull was Zeus himself! When he first saw Europe he was fascinated with her beauty that he decided to transform himself in order to take her away. (In fact to steal her)
Swimming in the same way and being helped by dolphins and the god of the sea, Jupiter, Zeus crossed the long ocean until he reached an island. That was Crete. When they reached the land, he stopped in a place full of big trees and a little stream. There, the nymphs who had made a beautiful home and a bed for them, were awaiting for them. Europe was astonished to see the bull disappear and his majesty standing in front of her.
Zeus and Europe had three sons: Minoa – who later became the famous and glorious king of Crete – Sarpidon and Rodamanthus.
When Zeus decided to leave Crete and return to his home, he found a good husband for her. It was Asterion, the King of Crete at that time. Asterion adopted her three children.
Zeus gave the new couple three precious gifts. A bronze giant, that looked like a robot and his job was to guard the island and keep It safe from invaders. The second gift was a dreadful hunting dog and the third gift was a gun that never missed its target.
After Europe’s death, and in order to honour her, the gods gave her name to the continent that spreads above Crete. The people in Crete organised celebrations and bullfights to honour Zeus who managed to deceive Europe.