by Imonikhe Ahimie

Created on: June 08, 2010

Zeus, the chief god in the Greek pantheon was renowned for the numbers of love affairs that he had with mortal as well as immortal partners. One of the more famous of these affairs was the god’s liaison with Europa, the daughter of Aegnor, king of Tyre and a son of Poseidon, master of the seas and earthquakes, and his wife, Telephasa. Europa was the sister of Cadmus, the founder of Thebes, Cilix, Phineas and Thasus. Growing up, Europa was a happy, innocent and gaiety-filled child and, as she grew into maidenhood, it was these traits, as well as her compelling beauty, that drew the attention of the king of gods and men.

Having fallen in love with the beautiful maiden, Zeus was faced with two problems; first how he was going to abduct and seduce the maiden and, second, how he would keep the affair secret from Hera the queen, his consort, who was famous for her jealousy of all of Zeus’ paramours as well as for the severity of the punishments that she inflicted, as a matter of policy, on these paramours, mortal or immortal, who had the temerity to indulge in an affair with her consort that came to her notice.

So, Zeus conceived the idea of transforming himself into a snowy white bull, the most beautiful bull ever seen, and insinuated himself into the herd of Aegnor, Europa’s father. Then with Hermes, the herald and spokesman of the Olympian gods, acting as herdsman, the herd was led out by the seashore where Europa was at play with her friends and brothers. As soon as the maiden set her eyes upon that beautiful bull, she fell completely in love with it and started playing with it, and, so gentle was the animal, that she and her companions soon lost any apprehension that they may have had and in short time they were climbing on to the animal’s back and riding it. Soon, it was Europa’s turn to ride, which was what Zeus was waiting for; as soon as she climbed up unto the animal’s back, the animal faced towards the sea and raced away. Startled and deeply frightened, Europa cried out in fear; but, so rapidly did the bull proceed, that there was nothing she or any of her companions could do. The bull raced over the sea and, riding the waves, the bull and its passenger had vanished from the sight of the maiden’s companions.

The bull ended up on the island of Crete, incidentally the birthplace of Zeus himself, where it crashed into a thicket and Europa fell off its back. Thereupon, Zeus changed into an eagle and made love to Europa.

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