Europe is the daughter of Agenor and Telephases, loved by Zeus. Zeus caught sight of Europe while she was playing with her friends on Siron Beach. Burning with passion for her beauty he turned himself into a bull of blinding whiteness.

In this form he lay by the maiden’s feet. Europe, frightened at first, then gaining trust, caressed the animal and ended up sitting on his back. Right away , the bull got up and thrust himself into the sea. In spite of the shouts of Europe, who was holding tightly to his horns, he entered into the waves and swam away from the shore. . In this manner they both reached Crete.

In Gorthina, Zeus and Europe made love next to a water fountain, under banana tress, that remembering such love, received the privilege of never losing its leaves.

Europe had three children with Zeus; Minos, Salpedon and Radamantis.