Europa

Libya, daughter of Epaphus

Agenor: Became a prominent figure linked to Phoenicia and is considered the ancestor of many important mythological figures, including Europa and Cadmus.

Golden Basket Crafted by Hephaestus

Telephassa ultimately gave this golden basket to her daughter, Europa, before Europa’s fateful encounter with Zeus.

It is implied that Europa took the basket with her during the famous episode where Zeus abducted her in the guise of a white bull.

The basket's presence may have highlighted Europa's innocence and nobility, foreshadowing her destiny to become the mother of three significant figures: Minos, Rhadamanthys, and Sarpedon.

Since Hephaestus often made objects with magical or significant properties, the basket represents Europa's ties to the divine and her future importance.

It also serves as a literary device that underscores Europa's divine connection and blessing, further elevating her status beyond that of a mere mortal.

During Europa’s abduction by Zeus, the imagery of her with the golden basket by her side often adds an artistic and poetic quality to the narrative.

In art and literature, this golden artifact symbolizes Europa's purity and the prosperity that would come from her union with Zeus.

Europa would later become the queen of Crete, and her sons—Minos, Rhadamanthys, and Sarpedon—would play vital roles in Greek mythological history.

Queen Telephassa (“far-shining”)

In Greek mythology, Telephassa was the consort of King Agenor of Tyre and mother to Europa, Cadmus, Phoenix, and Cilix.

Following Zeus's abduction of Europa, who had transformed into a white bull, Telephassa accompanied her sons in the search for their sister.

In certain accounts, Telephassa is referred to as the spouse of Phoenix, with Cadmus and Europa as their offspring.

A notable aspect of Telephassa's narrative involves a golden basket crafted by Hephaestus, which she bestowed upon her daughter Europa.

Research

Europa: A Phoenician Princess

Europa was a figure in Greek mythology.

Abduction by Zeus: Zeus, captivated by Europa's charm, transformed himself into a magnificent white bull.

He mingled with her father's cattle, drawing Europa's attention while she was gathering flowers by the sea.

Europa, enchanted by the gentle and docile nature of the bull, climbed onto its back.

Zeus then seized the opportunity, charging into the sea and carrying Europa across the waters to the island of Crete [coordinates n="35.2401" e="24.8093" z="6"].

Life in Crete: On Crete, Zeus revealed his true identity to Europa, and they became lovers.

Zeus gifted Europa three notable sons: Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Sarpedon.

Legacy: Europa's name has a significant legacy in Western civilization.

Sources provide varying accounts of Europa's lineage, but consistently identify her as Phoenician, linked to an Argive ancestry descending from Io, the nymph beloved by Zeus who was transformed into a heifer.

Europa is typically described as the daughter of King Agenor of Tyre, a Phoenician ruler.

Some versions, such as the Iliad, present Europa as the daughter of Phoenix, son of Agenor.

In this interpretation, there might be two Europas: one the niece of the other, both loved by Zeus, which could explain some of the confusion in the accounts.

After Zeus carried Europa to Crete, she had three sons with him: Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Sarpedon.

In Crete, Europa also married Asterion (or Asterius) and became the mother or stepmother to his daughter, Crete.

According to Pausanias, the poet Praxilla also mentioned that Europa had a son named Carnus.

Minos, King of Crete

He was said to be the son of Zeus and Europa and ruled with a strict sense of justice, contributing to his eventual role as one of the judges of the dead in the underworld.

Kurimeo Ahau

PT 10 – Researches Into The Lost History Of America: The Evacuation and Flight of the Gods

Mythological Evacuations: The chapter describes a great dispersion of gods and peoples from Central America, connecting myths like those of Atlas, Europa, and Bacchus to migrations from the Americas to Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Phoenician Influence: Europa’s myth is tied to Phoenician origins, with implications of transatlantic crossings.

Ignatius Donnelly

The Indentity of the Civilizations of the Old World and the New

If the legend of Cadmus recovering Europa, after she has been carried away by the white bull, the spotless cloud, means that "the sun must journey westward until he sees again the beautiful tints which greeted his eyes in the morning," it is curious to find a story current in North America to the effect that a man once had a beautiful daughter, 'whom he forbade to leave the lodge lest she should be carried off by the king of the buffaloes; and that as she sat, notwithstanding, outside the house combing her hair, "all of a sudden the king of the buffaloes came dashing on, with his herd of followers, and, taking her between his horns, away be cantered over plains, plunged into a river which bounded his land, and carried her safely to his lodge on the other side," whence she was finally recovered by her father.

Paul Wallis

The Titans – Non-Terrestrials Mating with Terrestrials

The guide explained that the Minoans descended from the hybrid offspring of Europa and Zeus.

Europa, a Phoenician princess, was abducted by Zeus, and their son, Minos, became the progenitor of the Minoan civilization.

Crete, Greece

Mount Ida

According to legend, Talos was a gift from Zeus to Europa, the mother of King Minos of Crete, and he patrolled the island’s shores to ward off threats.

Pleiades and Orion
Animals

The bull

Additionally, the god Zeus transformed into a bull to seduce Europa, which highlights the bull's association with divine power and sexual prowess.

The story of Zeus transforming into a bull to abduct Europa is mirrored in the stars, with the constellation representing the divine power and transformative ability of the gods.

Paul Wallis

A populated universe

The daughter of the king of Phoenicia, her name was Europa, was abducted by a being that could shape-shift, and with that being, she had three hybrid children, one of them called Minos, the progenitor of the Minoan culture in Greece.

Planet

Jupiter

The four largest moons—Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto—were discovered by Galileo Galilei in 1610 and are known as the Galilean moons.