Europa

Europa (yoorō'pu) [key], in Greek mythology, daughter of Agenor and Telephassa. Zeus, enamored of her, appeared as a white bull, enticed her to climb on his back, and swam off with her to Crete. There she bore him Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Sarpedon. She married the king of Crete, who adopted her sons. After her death she was worshiped as a goddess in the festival of the Hellotia.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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