In
Greek mythology Europa (;
Eurṓpē) was the mother of
King Minos of
Crete, a woman with
Phoenician origin of high lineage, and for whom the
continent Europe was named. The story of her abduction by
Zeus in the form of a white bull was a
Cretan story; as
Kerényi points out "most of the love-stories concerning
Zeus originated from more ancient tales describing his marriages with goddesses. This can especially be said of the story of Europa".