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. The following is part of our Continents series. For the full map of Cosmographia posts, see here.Europe, it is said, takes its name from Europa, a Phoenician Princess from Greek mythology.
As the story goes, Zeus took a liking to the beautiful princess from Tyre (in modern-day Lebanon). In order to seduce her, he transformed into a bull and took a place among her family’s herd. Europa was out picking flowers, and, being fond of animals, was drawn to this splendid specimen. She caressed its flanks, wound flowers around its horns, and eventually sat atop its back. Zeus took this opportunity to run off with Europa on her back. He dived into the sea and swam her across to the island of Crete.1
Once on the dry land, Zeus revealed his true identity and went to bed with Europa. The first Queen of Crete, as she would become, bore Zeus three sons: Minos (King of Crete, keeper of the Minotaur, and, upon death, a Judge of the Underworld), Rhadamanthus (also King and Judge of the Dead), and Sarpedon (who fought and died for Troy in The Iliad).
