Historical Snapshot: The Phoenician Princess Europe Is Named After
At one point or another, you’ve probably heard of how Europe was supposedly named after a Phoneician princess. The stories and myths surrounding princess Europa go much further than just a name.
Europa is a prominent character in Greek mythology, with the earliest reference to her recorded in Homer’s Iliad. Most sources agree that she was Phoenician, a descendant of princess Io, an ancient lover of Zues. Her father was said to be King Agenor of Tyre, and her mother Queen Telephassa. She is said to have had either two or three brothers, with some sources unsure if the “Phoenix” was her father or brother.
After laying his eyes upon her, Zeus became enamored with princess Europa and did everything in his power to bed her. The Greek god transformed himself into white bull and embedded himself within the King’s herds. Europa was walking along with her helpers and gathering flowers when she spotted the bull. Intrigued, she approached the bull and eventually got on his back. That is when Zeus seized on the opportunity, running into the city and swimming with her on his back all the way to Crete.
Upon arrival on the Greek island, Zeus revealed his true identity and declared her the first queen of Crete. He would shower her with gifts, including the guard Talos, the hound Laelaps, and a javelin that always hit its target. He also formed a white bull in the night sky to memorialize their first encounter, creating what is now known as the taurus constellation. She eventually bears 3 children for Zeus: Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Sarpedon, future kings of Crete and judges in the Underworld.
The impact of Princess Europa can be seen in countless examples. She has been featured in much art as poetry, mostly alongside her brother Cadmus. Many sources have elaborated on how she and the continent of Europe came to share a name, with the European Union even releasing coins, booknotes, and stamps to celebrate her as a symbol of pan-Europeanism. She is also the name of one of Jupiter’s smallest Galilean moons.
There is much debate on whether Europa was seduced by Zeus or kidnapped by Greeks, with competing myths spreading around her. One Roman interpretation replaces Zeus with Jupiter, while another Greek interpretation rationalizes her kidnapping by a group of Cretens looking to avenge Princess Io.
What is also the subject of study is whether Zeus seduced or raped the princess, with Greek mythology often equating the two. Considering the circumstances of her journey to Crete, it may be safe to say it was the latter.
