The king of the rich Phoenician city of Sidon, Agenor, had three sons and a daughter, beautiful as an immortal goddess. This young beauty's name was Europe. Agenor's daughter once had a dream. She saw how Asia and the continent that is separated from Asia by the sea, in the form of two women, fought for her. Every woman wanted to own Europe. Asia was defeated, and she, who raised and nourished Europe, had to give it up to another. Europe woke up in fear; she could not understand the meaning of this dream. The young daughter Agenor humbly began to pray that the gods would avert misfortune from her if sleep threatened them. Then, dressed in purple robes woven with gold, she and her friends went to a green meadow covered with flowers, to the seashore. There, frolicking, the Sidonian maidens collected flowers in their golden baskets. They collected fragrant, snow-white daffodils, variegated crocuses, violets and lilies. The daughter Agenor herself, shining with her beauty among her friends, like Aphrodite, surrounded by Charites, collected only scarlet roses in her golden basket. Having collected flowers, the maidens began to dance in a merry round with laughter. Their young voices carried far across the flowering meadow and the azure sea, drowning out its quiet gentle splash.
It didn’t take long to enjoy the beautiful, carefree life of Europe. Her son Krona, the mighty cloud suppressor Zeus, saw her and decided to kidnap her. In order not to frighten young Europe with his appearance, he took on the appearance of a wonderful bull. All the fur of Zeus the bull sparkled like gold, only on his forehead a silver spot burned, like the radiance of the moon, while the golden horns of the bull were curved, like the new moon, when it is first seen in the rays of the purple sunset. A wonderful bull appeared in the clearing and with light steps, barely touching the grass, approached the maidens. The Sidonian maidens were not afraid of him; they surrounded the wondrous animal and affectionately stroked it. The bull approached Europe, he licked her hands and caressed her. The bull's breath was fragrant with ambrosia, the whole air was filled with this fragrance. Europe stroked the bull's golden fur with her gentle hand, hugged his head and kissed him. The bull lay down at the feet of the beautiful maiden, as if he was asking her to sit on him.
Laughing, Europe sat down on the broad back of the bull. Other girls also wanted to sit next to her. Suddenly the bull jumped up and quickly ran towards the sea. He stole the one he wanted. The Sidonian women screamed loudly in fear. Europe stretched out its hands to them and called them for help; but the Sidonian virgins could not help her. Like the wind, the golden-horned bull rushed. He threw himself into the sea and quickly, like a dolphin, swam through its azure waters. And the waves of the sea parted before him, and their splashes rolled off his fur like diamonds without wetting it. Beautiful Nereids emerged from the depths of the sea; they crowd around the bull and swim after him. The god of the sea Poseidon himself, surrounded by sea deities, floats ahead on his chariot; with his trident he tames the waves, smoothing the path across the sea for his great brother Zeus. Trembling with fear, Europe sits on the back of a bull. With one hand she holds on to his golden horns, with the other she picks up the hem of her purple dress so that the sea waves do not wet it. She is afraid in vain; the sea gently rustles, and its salty splashes do not reach her. The sea wind sways Europa's curls and flutters her light blanket. Further and further the shore, now he disappeared into the blue distance. All around is the sea and the blue sky. Soon the shores of Crete appeared in the distant sea. Zeus the bull quickly swam to him with his precious burden and went ashore. Europa became the wife of Zeus, and from then on she lived in Crete. Three sons were born to her and Zeus: Minos, Rhadamanthos and Sarpedon. The glory of these mighty and wise sons of the thunderer Zeus thundered throughout the world.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru