Golden Basket Crafted by Hephaestus
Libya then passed the golden basket down to Telephassa, linking it to her family and establishing a sense of divine favor and connection.
Telephassa ultimately gave this golden basket to her daughter, Europa, before Europa’s fateful encounter with Zeus.
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.
Their journey led them through regions including Rhodes and Thera, ultimately reaching Thrace, where Telephassa succumbed to illness and was interred by Cadmus.
In certain accounts, Telephassa is referred to as the spouse of Phoenix, with Cadmus and Europa as their offspring.
Additionally, she is sometimes identified as Telephe.
A notable aspect of Telephassa's narrative involves a golden basket crafted by Hephaestus, which she bestowed upon her daughter Europa.
This golden basket was originally a gift from Poseidon to Libya, who then passed it to Telephassa, highlighting their familial connections.
Europa: A Phoenician Princess
She was originally a Phoenician princess, the daughter of King Agenor and Queen Telephassa of Tyre (modern-day Lebanon) [coordinates n="33.2707" e="35.2033" z="6"].
The poet Moschus mentions her mother as Queen Telephassa ("far-shining"), while other versions cite Argiope ("silver-faced") as her mother.