Europa
Europa was the Phoenician princess whom Zeus, in the form of a white bull, carried across the sea to Crete — her name was given to the continent of Europe.
The Legend of Europa
A Phoenician princess of Sidon, Europa was gathering flowers by the sea when Zeus appeared as a magnificent white bull. Enchanted by his gentleness, she climbed on his back. He plunged into the waves and carried her to Crete, where she bore him Minos, Rhadamanthys, and Sarpedon. Her brother Cadmus, sent to find her, founded Thebes instead on Apollo's advice at Delphi. Europa's abduction set in motion two great mythic cycles — the Cretan dynasty of Minos, Pasiphaë, and the Minotaur, and the Theban line that led to Oedipus and Dionysus.
Parents
Agenor and Telephassa
Children
Minos, Rhadamanthys, Sarpedon
Symbols
Fun Fact
An entire continent bears her name — and her image appeared on Greek coins for centuries and now on Euro banknotes.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
Explore Further
Cadmus
🗡 heroFounder of Thebes who brought the alphabet to Greece
The Phoenician prince who founded Thebes, sowed dragon's teeth to raise an army, and gave Greece the gift of writing.
Atthis
🗡 heroEponymy, Attica
Daughter of the early Athenian king Cranaus, from whom the region of Attica received its name
Alcimede
🗡 heroMotherhood, nobility
Noble Thessalian woman and mother of Jason, leader of the Argonauts
Anaxibia
🗡 heroMarriage, royalty
Mycenaean princess who married Strophius of Phocis and raised the young Orestes in secret
Cadmus
🗡 heroFounder of Thebes
Cadmus was the Phoenician prince who founded Thebes, sowed dragon's teeth, and brought the alphabet from Phoenicia to Greece.
Tyro
🗡 herolove
Beautiful princess who fell in love with the river god Enipeus, only to be seduced by Poseidon disguised as the river.
Periboia
🗡 heroNobility, Adoption, Courage
Athenian noblewoman who joined the tribute sent to Minos and was rescued by Theseus, later marrying Ajax's father Telamon.
Nausicaa
🗡 heroPhaeacian princess who found Odysseus
Nausicaa was the young princess of Scheria who found the shipwrecked Odysseus on the beach and guided him to her father's palace — launching his final journey home.
Ino
🗡 heromadness
Theban princess who raised the infant Dionysus, was driven mad by Hera, and leaped into the sea to become the goddess Leucothea.
Andromeda
🗡 herorescue
Ethiopian princess chained to a rock as sacrifice to a sea monster, rescued by Perseus, and placed among the stars.
Cassiopeia
🗡 heroNone recorded
Vain queen of Aethiopia whose boast brought a sea monster upon her kingdom
Jason
🗡 heroLeader of the Argonauts
The hero who assembled the Argonauts and sailed to Colchis to retrieve the Golden Fleece, aided by Medea's sorcery.