Rembrandt, Guido Reni, Titian, Paolo Veronese, Francois Boucher, Valentin Serov... The list seems to be endless. "What can unite these great artists?" - you ask. Only one thing - the abduction of Europe ...
Dream the day before
One day, the beautiful Europe - the Phoenician princess - had an amazing dream. She stands with her head bowed, and in front of her are two women. They are having a heated argument about something. Words cannot be deciphered. She listens and understands that one of them is called Azil (Asia), and she is her mother. She nurtured and raised her, therefore she has the right to live with her beautiful daughter. But the second, suspicious stranger, does not retreat, and resolutely declares that Europe (ancient Greek mythology) will be presented to her by the supreme god himself - Zeus, and she will be called by her name.
A young maiden woke up in horror: what hidden meaning dreams? And that hour she went to pray, humbly asking the gods to save her from possible misfortunes ...
Walk
Time has passed. Europe (mythology) dressed in purple and gold clothes and went for a walk with her friends to the seashore. There, in the rich, densely green flowering meadows, the beautiful Sidonian maidens were picking flowers. Bright violets, delicate lilies, snow-white daffodils - what was not in their golden baskets. Agenor's daughter was not inferior to them either in beauty or in dexterity, and on the contrary, like Aphrodite, she shone with her splendor and grace. In the basket she had only scarlet roses ...
Having collected flowers, they easily, with a laugh, joined hands and began, stomping, to lead a round dance. Their cheerful young voices were carried by the wind far, far away: over the fields, and over the meadows, and over the blue sea. It seemed that they drowned out and filled the whole space with themselves. Could not hear them and the son of Krona - the mighty Zeus ...
The Abduction of Europa
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a huge bull appears in the meadow, dazzling white with golden horns bent in the form of a crescent. Who is this unexpected guest? Where did he come from and where does he go? The girls came closer and, not without fear, began to observe the wondrous beast. They had never seen him before. It seems that their unbridled joy and loud voices brought him here. Well then, let's play together! But the bull, peacefully waving its tail, bypasses the young beauties and approaches Europe. His breath was surprisingly light and fragrant.
What's this? thought the princess. - Really ambrosia?
The air around was filled with the aroma of immortality. The daughter of King Agenor could not resist, and also began to stroke the miracle beast, gently hugging and kissing his mighty neck and head. Fine bull lay down at the girl's feet, thus as if inviting her to sit on his back. Taking the hint, laughing, not suspecting anything, she perched on the mighty back of the golden-horned one. Immediately the eyes of the peaceful animal became filled with blood, he jumps up and rushes to the seashore.
The escape
The Sidonians were afraid. They started screaming and calling for help. But it's all useless. The bull has already jumped into the sea...
Europe was also frightened (mythology Ancient Greece famous for its combination of love and drama). But she had no choice but to sit quietly on the back of either an animal, or ... She holds on with one hand and picks up the edge of her dress with the other, so as not to get wet from the salty waves. Her fears are superfluous: Poseidon himself - the god of the sea and brother of Zeus - rushes ahead in his chariot so that not a single sea creature interferes with the bull, so that not a single salty drop falls on the princess. Even the sea wind, not wanting to quarrel, calmed down its sharp impulses.
Europe did not have the slightest doubt: God himself took the form of her formidable abductor. But what? In her father's palace, she saw many strangers: some were from Libya, others from Assyria, and still others from Egypt. She distinguished them only by their clothes. It is obvious that God decided to outwit everyone, and took the form of a bull, so that the father, after listening to the story of the abduction, did not guess where to look for his daughter. Here the golden-horned one turned his head, and - Oh, a miracle! - not a drop of rage in his eyes, only bottomless depth, some kind of thoughtfulness and kindness. They became almost human...
long-awaited shore
Native shores have long disappeared from sight. They were surrounded only by an endless water desert. Suddenly, a rocky shore appeared in the distance. The animal swam faster. “No, this is not the land of Egypt,” the captive suggested. The king of Sidon - Agenor (and the Ocean in ancient Roman legends) - once said that the place where the Nile River flows into the sea is more like a palm - flat, without a single depression or mountain. It's more like an island...
It was the island of Crete. Finally, the wanderers got out on land. The bull allowed Europa to descend and dusted himself off. A hail of cold spray doused her from head to toe. Seeing nothing and not understanding what was happening, she quickly began to wipe her eyes and face. When I woke up, I saw a beautiful young man with a diadem on his head. Zeus - that's who the miracle bull turned out to be!
Many years have passed. Europe (ancient Greek mythology) remained to live in Crete, and gave birth to three sons to the Thunderer: Minos, Radamanth and Sarpedon. From those time immemorial, the stars from the divine bull, which the supreme god placed in the sky as a sign of his undying love for Europe, give us their radiance.
The kidnapping did not go unnoticed for the father, King Agenor. His wife - Telefassa (and Tefida in ancient Roman mythology) - together with their sons went to look for their beloved daughter and sister. But their attempts were unsuccessful. They never found her.
Jean-Francois de Troyes - The Rape of Europa
Jean-François de Troy (1679, Paris - 1752, Rome), - french artist representative of the Rococo style.
Alexa ndr Pantykin - Abduction of Europa
Orchestra of the Union of Composers of the Sverdlovsk Region "Harmonia Caelestis"
Conductor artistic director Orchestra - Yana Annenkova
Roman cameo "The Rape of Europa", mounted during the Renaissance
Antique mosaic "The Abduction of Europe"
Mosaic Museum in Zeugme (Turkey)
Europe - in ancient Greek mythology daughter of the Phoenician king. Her name presumably comes from the ancient Greek "broad-eyed" or from the Phoenician "sunset" (West). Versions about the name of this king differ, and therefore you should not focus on this.
According to legend, Zeus appeared to Europe, who was playing with her friends on the seashore, in the form of a white bull and kidnapped her, taking her on his back to the island of Crete. On the island of Crete, Zeus took the form of a beautiful young man and took possession of Europe. From this union were born the sons of Minos, Rhadamanthus and Sarpedon.
According to the local Cretan myth, Zeus reclined with her under a plane tree near Gortyna (an ancient city in Crete). According to Antimachus (Antimachus of Colophon - an ancient Greek poet of the 5th-4th centuries BC), Europe was hidden by Zeus in a cave.
According to another version, Europe was hidden in the place of Teumess in Boeotia (Boeotia in ancient times was the largest of the countries of Central Greece), Zeus the Boeotian was called the spouse of Europe.
Subsequently, Europe married Asterion, king of Crete, who, dying childless, left power over the island to the sons of Europe from Zeus.
The Abduction of Europa - Ancient Greece (painting on a red-figure vessel)
Zeus - Loving god. Myths of ancient Greece
Don Juan list of Zeus (myth about Europe, starting from the 19th minute)
To thank the bull for his help, Zeus raised him to heaven. This is how the constellation Taurus was born.
Constellation Taurus
Antique terracotta "Europe on a bull"
Floor Roman mosaic "The Abduction of Europe"
The myth of Europe, just like the others ancient greek myths found its reflection in the visual arts. A curious thing: in our sources, paintings and sculptures inspired by this plot are called exclusively "The Abduction of Europe", but European sources also call them "The Rape of Europe" (Il Ratto di Europa - italian version, The rape of Europe - English version).
Here is a translation of the first paragraph of the article of the English version of Wikipedia, dedicated to the painting by Titian:
The Rape of Europe is a painting by the Italian painter Titian, painted between 1560-1562. It is in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, Massachusetts."
Well, well, the Europeans, of course, know better.)))
Rosso Fiorentino (print from an original by René Boivin) - The Rape of Europa (1545-1555)
Rosso Fiorentino (Rosso Fiorentino, or simply Rosso, - Red Florentine), real name Giovanni Battista di Jacopo (1494, Florence - 1540, Fontainebleau, France), - Italian painter of the Florentine school, worked in Italy and in France.
René Boivin (1525-1598), French painter and engraver. Boivin is considered one of the main artists of the distributors of the aesthetics of the Fontainebleau school.
Such a brutal bull - this one will definitely rape.
Giulio Romano - The Rape of Europa
Giulio Romano, known as Giulio Pippi (1499-1546), - italian artist and an architect, a student of Raphael. Representative of the Mannerist movement.
For a long time, the paintings of Giulio Romano were the property of collectors. Modern prints from them by Marcantonio Raimondi were a significant contribution to the spread of the Italian style of the 16th century throughout Europe.
Europe to the bull:
Stop, damn, I'll get off!
Yes... Here, too, everything will end badly.
Titian - The Rape of Europa
Titian Vecellio (Tiziano Vecellio), (1488/1490, the town of Pieve di Cadore, Venice - 1576, Venice), - Italian painter, the largest representative Venetian school eras of the High and Late Renaissance.
Europe to Cupid and company:
The stupid bastard is off the chain, and you're shooting, assholes!
Of course, rape, but what else to do with such a stupid beauty?
Paolo Veronese - The Abduction of Europa (London Art Gallery)
Paolo Caliari, known as Paolo Veronese (1528, Verona - 1588, Venice), is one of the most prominent painters of the Venetian school.
And here is the usual kidnapping, akin to the kidnapping of the bride in folk wedding ceremonies.
Guido Reni - The Rape of Europa
Guido Reni (1575, Calvenzano, Emilia-Romagna - 1642, Bologna), - Italian painter of the Bologna school.
Everything here is so cute and glamorous.
Peter Paul Rubens - The Rape of Europa
Peter Paul Rubens (1577, Siegen, Germany - 1640, Antwerp), - the great Dutch (Flemish) painter, one of the founders of Baroque art, diplomat, collector.
So far, only kidnapping, but with unpredictable consequences.
Claude Lorrain - The Rape of Europa
Claude Lorrain, real name- Gellée or Gelée (Gelle or Jelly)), (1600, Shaman, near Mirkur, Lorraine - 1682, Rome), - French painter and engraver, one of the greatest masters of the classical landscape.
Peaceful landscape with peaceful villagers. Bull riding is a familiar thing for them.
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn - The Rape of Europa (1632)
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1669), - Dutch painter, draftsman and engraver, Great master chiaroscuro, the largest representative of the golden age of Dutch painting.
European maids:
Come home, oh foolish Europe! Making friends with a bull is fraught with girls.
Kuapel Noel-Nicola - Abduction of Europa (Europe Museum of Art Philadelphia, USA)
Noël-Nicolas Coypel (1690, Paris - 1734, Paris) was a French painter and engraver, a representative of the Coypel family of artists.
Spectacular, multi-figured... Of course, just a kidnapping, and then we'll see.
Francois Boucher - The Abduction of Europe (1732-1734)
Francois Boucher (1703, Paris - 1770, Paris), - French painter, engraver, decorator. Bright representative rococo style.
What kind of rape is there, here it’s not even kidnapping, but gallant entertainment.
Riccio - The Rape of Europa (Museum fine arts- Budapest)
Andrea Riccio (Andrea Riccio, real name Andrea Briosco), (after 1470-1532), was an Italian sculptor and architect. He is known mainly for small bronzes, most often utilitarian items such as inkwells, doorknockers, exquisitely sculpted and decorated in the Renaissance classicist style.
Europe to the bull:
I'll kill you, damned bull, - I'll let you in for meat!
Judging by this sculpture, it is unlikely that it will come to rape.)))
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo - The Rape of Europa
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696, Venice - 1770, Madrid), - the largest artist of the Italian Rococo, master of frescoes and engravings, the last great representative of the Venetian school.
Europe with a view of the victim in space:
I dejectedly surrender to rock ...
Francisco Goya - The Rape of Europa
Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes), (1746, Fuendetodos, near Zaragoza, Spain - 1828, Bordeaux, France), - Spanish painter and engraver, one of the first and most prominent masters of fine art of the era romanticism.
European maids:
Europe, be in trouble!
Europe for maids:
What will happen to me.
Gustave Moreau - The Rape of Europa
Gustave Moreau (1826, Paris - 1898, Paris) was a French symbolist painter.
Europe to the bull:
Goby, I see you are horned!
Valentin Serov - Abduction of Europe
The composition is made as a sculptural study for painting.
Valentin Serov - The Abduction of Europe (1910)
Valentin Alexandrovich Serov (1865, St. Petersburg - 1911, Moscow), - Russian painter and graphic artist, portrait master.
It's just an attraction" Sea trips on a bull."
Adolf Müntzer - The Rape of Europa
Adolf Franz Theodor Münzer (1870-1953) was a German painter and graphic artist.
Europe to the bull:
Let's be friends with you, my friend.
Paul Manship - The Rape of Europa
Paul Howard Manship (1885-1966) was an American sculptor.
Europe for Cupid:
So what are you saying, I love this beast?!
TO BE CONTINUED
Figurine "The Abduction of Europe" (Europe on a bull)
Germany - Meissen - (mid-20th century)
Author - Elias Meier (Friedrich Elias Meier)
And this figurine asks for an explanation: "This is a bull, not a cow."
Once, when Europe, the daughter of King Sidon Agenor, was walking with her friends on the seashore, playing and picking flowers, a dazzling white bull with curved crescent-shaped horns appeared out of nowhere. It seems that he was attracted by the fun of the girls, and he himself is ready to play with them. Peacefully waving his tail, he approaches Europe and exposes his broad back to her. Suspecting nothing, the maiden sits on the back of a peaceful animal. But the bull suddenly becomes rabid. His gentle, curious eyes fill with blood, and he quickly rushes into the waves. Europe has no choice but to hold on tightly to the horns.
On the high seas, with the appearance of dolphins and other sea creatures rising from the bottom to greet and accompany the bull, Europe had not the slightest doubt that a god had assumed the form of her captor. But what? In her father's house, she saw many guests from overseas countries who visited Sidon on trade business, and learned to distinguish the clothes of the Assyrian from the Egyptian, the Egyptian from the Libyan, the Libyan from the inhabitant of the rich island of Keftiu (Crete). “Obviously, the gods also dress like their worshipers?” thought the girl. “Isn’t that why this cunning god took on the form of a bull, so that my father, having learned from my friends who kidnapped me, did not guess where to look?”
She grasped the tuft of wool forcefully, hoping that some of the clothes she knew were hidden underneath. But the wool was dense, and only a few hairs remained in the palm, golden in the sun. The bull turned his head, and Europe did not catch the fury in his huge eyes, light from the sea blue. They became almost human and reminded her of the eyes of a young commoner who came to the seashore and from afar silently looked at her for a long time.
A mountainous coast appeared in the distance. The bull began to swim faster, as if feeling a chase behind him. But the sea was empty: sea creatures lagged behind, unable to swim with the bull on a par.
“No, this is not Egypt,” the girl thought. “Father told me that the shore at the confluence of the Nile into the sea is flat, like a palm, overgrown with reeds in many places. pillars of Melqart, islands that a bull would want to land on?"
The bull climbed ashore and, letting Europa go down, shook himself off. Blinded by a hail of cold spray, the girl began to wipe her face with her palms, but when she took them away, she saw that a young man with a narrow, aspen waist and broad shoulders was standing in the place of the bull. On his head is a diadem, which is worn only on Keftiu.
"God Keftiu!" - she realized at the moment when the young man grabbed her and, with the speed of lightning, dragged her into the black opening of the cave visible in the rocks ... From this union, Europe gave birth to the sons of Minos, Sarpedon and Radamanth.(
Daughter of a Phoenician king. Her name supposedly comes from the Phoenician " sunset»(West) or from the ancient Greek "wide-eyed", where ευρύς - wide, όψις - eye.
Personality of Europe
All versions agree that she was the sister of Cadmus, but references to the father diverge. According to one version, she is the daughter of the Phoenix, the granddaughter of Agenor; according to the poet Asius, the daughter of Phoenix and Perimedes. According to another, the daughter of Agenor and Telefassa; or daughter of Agenor and Argiope. According to a rare version, the daughter of Titya.
The Abduction of Europa by Zeus
According to a local myth, Zeus reclined with her under a plane tree near Gortyn. According to Prasian coins, in the branches of the sycamore tree itself, with Zeus becoming a bird. According to Antimachus, Europa was hidden by Zeus in a cave.
According to another version, Europe was hidden in the place Teumess in Boeotia, Zeus the Boeotian was called the spouse of Europe.
Subsequently, Europa married Asterion, king of Crete, who, dying childless, left power over the island to the sons of Europa by Zeus.
Myth Analysis
The myth of Europe undoubtedly bears the mark of zoomorphism, like the tales of Cadmus and the Minotaur akin to it. In addition to Crete, Europe was revered in Thebes as a local deity. Herodotus rationalizes the legend about Europe and considers her the daughter of the Phoenician king, who was kidnapped from Tyre by Cretan merchants.
Image in art
- In Odessa, on the Big fountain road (9th station of the Big fountain) was installed in 1994 in honor of the 200th anniversary of the city, the fountain "The Abduction of Europe" (sculptor Tokarev A.P., architect Chepelev V.N.)
In astronomy
The asteroid (52) Europa, discovered in 1858 and Jupiter's moon Europa, has been named in honor of Europe since the 17th century.
In numismatics
- The rape of Europa is depicted on a Cypriot 50-cent coin circulating in the 1990s.
- Also, Europe on a bull is depicted on the obverse of a 2 euro coin issued by the Bank of Greece when the country joined the Euro zone and is still in circulation today.
- The new Euro banknotes bear the watermark "Europe" from Greek mythology. The first banknote in the new version was issued in 5 euros (02.05.13), the second - 10 euros (23.09.14). The same sign is planned for the following denominations.
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Notes
- Myths of the peoples of the world. M., 1991-92. In 2 vols. T.1. P.419-420, Lübker F. Real Dictionary of Classical Antiquities. M., 2001. In 3 volumes. T.1. P.565
- Tantlevsky I.R. History of Israel and Judea before the destruction of the First Temple. St. Petersburg, 2005. P.9
- // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron
- Homer. Iliad XIV 321; Hesiod. List of women, fr.141 M.-U.; Bacchilid. Dithyrambs XVII 31; Antimachus. Thebaid, fr.3 Wyss; Moscow. Europe, art.7
- Pausanias. Description of Hellas VII 4, 1
- Ovid. Metamorphoses II 858; Hygin. Myths 155; Lucian. Marine talk 15, 1
- Hygin. Myths 178
- Scholia to Plato. Timaeus 24th // Losev A.F. Mythology of the Greeks and Romans. M., 1996. S.223, apparently, we are talking about another Europe
- Pseudo Apollodorus. Mythological Library II 5, 7 next
- Theophrastus. History of Plants I 9, 5; Pliny the Elder. Natural history XII 11 // Losev A.F. Mythology of the Greeks and Romans. M., 1996. S.226
- Losev A.F. Mythology of the Greeks and Romans. M., 1996. S.216
- Pausanias. Description of Hellas IX 19, 1
- Philostratus. Letters 47 // Losev A.F. Mythology of the Greeks and Romans. M., 1996. S.211
- Herodotus. History I 2 ()
- (Russian). Optima Tours (February 21, 2009). Retrieved February 21, 2009. .
- Fountains of Moscow#Fountain "Abduction of Europe"
Links
- // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg. , 1890-1907.
- www.new-euro-banknotes.eu/Europa-Series/The-Myth-of-Europa
An excerpt characterizing Europe (mythology)
Rostov was so awkward and unpleasant with Boris that when Boris looked in after dinner, he pretended to be asleep and the next day, early in the morning, trying not to see him, left the house. In a tailcoat and a round hat, Nikolai wandered around the city, looking at the French and their uniforms, looking at the streets and houses where the Russian and French emperors lived. On the square, he saw tables being set up and preparations for dinner; on the streets he saw draperies thrown over with banners of Russian and French colors and huge monograms A. and N. There were also banners and monograms in the windows of the houses.“Boris does not want to help me, and I do not want to contact him. This matter is settled, thought Nikolai, everything is over between us, but I will not leave here without doing everything I can for Denisov and, most importantly, without handing over the letter to the sovereign. Sovereign?! ... He is here! thought Rostov, involuntarily going back to the house occupied by Alexander.
Riding horses stood at this house and a retinue gathered, apparently preparing for the departure of the sovereign.
“I can see him at any moment,” thought Rostov. If only I could hand him the letter directly and tell him everything, would I really be arrested for wearing a tailcoat? Can not be! He would understand which side justice is on. He understands everything, knows everything. Who can be more just and generous than him? Well, if I were arrested for being here, what's the trouble? he thought, looking at the officer going up to the house occupied by the sovereign. “After all, they are rising. - E! it's all nonsense. I’ll go and submit a letter to the sovereign myself: so much the worse for Drubetskoy, who brought me to this. And suddenly, with a decisiveness that he himself did not expect from himself, Rostov, feeling the letter in his pocket, went straight to the house occupied by the sovereign.
“No, now I won’t miss the opportunity, as after Austerlitz,” he thought, expecting every second to meet the sovereign and feeling a rush of blood to his heart at this thought. I will fall at my feet and beg him. He will raise, listen and thank me again.” “I am happy when I can do good, but correcting injustice is the greatest happiness,” Rostov imagined the words that the sovereign would say to him. And he walked past those who were looking at him curiously, on the porch of the house occupied by the sovereign.
From the porch a wide staircase led straight up; to the right was a closed door. Downstairs under the stairs was a door to the lower floor.
- Who do you want? someone asked.
“Submit a letter, a request to His Majesty,” said Nikolai with a trembling voice.
- Request - to the duty officer, please come here (he was pointed to the door below). They just won't accept it.
Hearing this indifferent voice, Rostov was frightened of what he was doing; the idea of meeting the sovereign at any moment was so seductive and therefore so terrible for him that he was ready to run, but the chamber fourier, who met him, opened the door to the duty room for him and Rostov entered.
Low fat man about 30 years old, in white pantaloons, over the knee boots and in one batiste shirt, which was just put on, was standing in this room; the valet was fastening beautiful new straps embroidered with silk on his back, which for some reason Rostov noticed. This man was talking to someone in the other room.
- Bien faite et la beaute du diable, [The beauty of youth is well built,] - this man said, and when he saw Rostov, he stopped talking and frowned.
– What do you want? Request?…
- Qu "est ce que c" est? [What is this?] someone asked from the other room.
- Encore un petitionnaire, [Another petitioner,] - answered the man in the harness.
Tell him what's next. It's out now, you have to go.
- After the day after tomorrow. Late…
Rostov turned and wanted to go out, but the man in the harness stopped him.
- From whom? Who are you?
“From Major Denisov,” answered Rostov.
- Who are you? the officer?
- Lieutenant, Count Rostov.
- What courage! Submit on command. And you yourself go, go ... - And he began to put on the uniform given by the valet.
Rostov went out again into the passage and noticed that on the porch there were already many officers and generals in full dress uniform, past whom he had to pass.
Cursing his courage, dying at the thought that at any moment he could meet the sovereign and be disgraced and sent under arrest in his presence, fully understanding the indecency of his act and repenting of it, Rostov, lowering his eyes, made his way out of the house, surrounded by a crowd of brilliant retinue when a familiar voice called out to him and a hand stopped him.
- You, father, what are you doing here in a tailcoat? asked his bass voice.
He was a cavalry general, who in this campaign earned the sovereign's special favor, the former head of the division in which Rostov served.
Rostov frightenedly began to make excuses, but seeing the good-natured joking face of the general, stepping aside, in an excited voice handed over the whole matter to him, asking him to intercede for Denisov, who was known to the general. The general, having listened to Rostov, shook his head seriously.
- It's a pity, a pity for the young man; give me a letter.
As soon as Rostov had time to hand over the letter and tell the whole story of Denisov, quick steps with spurs pounded from the stairs and the general, moving away from him, moved to the porch. The gentlemen of the sovereign's retinue ran down the stairs and went to the horses. The landlord Ene, the same one who was in Austerlitz, brought the sovereign's horse, and on the stairs there was a slight creak of steps, which Rostov now recognized. Forgetting the danger of being recognized, Rostov moved with several curious residents to the very porch and again, after two years, he saw the same features he adored, the same face, the same look, the same gait, the same combination of greatness and meekness ... And a feeling of delight and love for the sovereign with the same strength resurrected in the soul of Rostov. The sovereign in the Preobrazhensky uniform, in white leggings and high boots, with a star that Rostov did not know (it was legion d "honneur) [star of the Legion of Honor] went out onto the porch, holding his hat under his arm and putting on a glove. He stopped, looking around and that's all illuminating his surroundings with his gaze. He said a few words to some of the generals. He also recognized the former head of the division Rostov, smiled at him and called him to him.
Europe Europe
(Europa, Εὺρώπη). Daughter of the Phoenician king Agenor. Zeus fell in love with her and, turning into a bull, carried her on his back across the sea to the island of Crete. Here Zeus assumed his usual form. Europe bore him the sons of Minos, Radamanthius and Sarpedon. Subsequently, she married the Cretan king, from whom her sons by Zeus inherited power over the island.
(A source: " Concise Dictionary mythology and antiquities. M. Korsh. St. Petersburg, edition of A. S. Suvorin, 1894.)
EUROPE(Εύρώπη), in Greek mythology, the daughter of a Phoenician king Agenor. Zeus, who fell in love with E., abducted her, either turning himself into a meek bull (Apollod. Ill I, 1), or sending a bull after her (Ps.-Eratosth. 14). On the back of this beautiful white bull, E. swam across the sea and ended up in Crete, where Zeus shared a bed with her, after which she gave birth to sons Minos, Sarpedon And Radamantha(Apollod. Ill I, 1). Then she became the wife of the childless Cretan king Asterius ("star"), who adopted and raised her children from Zeus (III 1, 2). The story of her brother is connected with the myth of E. Cadmus, who went on a fruitless search for his sister and settled in Thebes (Apollod. III I, 1; Hyg. Fab. 178). The mother of famous kings and judges, the wife of the Olympian Zeus, E. appears in heroic mythology, but this is a primordially chthonic deity. Her name means "broad-eyed" (an epithet of the moon) or "broad-voiced", she is a correlate of the ancient Zeus Euryope ("broad-voiced"), dating back to the pre-Greek cults of Northern Greece and Asia Minor. E. is close to the chthonic Zeus of Dodona, from whose marriage she has a son, Dodon, the patron of the sanctuary of Dodona (Steph. Byz., v. Dodone). In Boeotia, Demeter-E. was considered the wife of Zeus, and her son Trophonius was a chthonic demon (Paus. IX 39, 4). E. was brought closer to the chthonic goddesses, sometimes identified with them (in Sidon, E. did not differ from the goddesses Selene and Astarte). It is endowed with plant and animal functions, its image unites the entire cosmos (including heaven, earth and the underworld); identified with the Moon (Hymn. Hom. XXXI 4 next).
Lit.: Losev A. F., ancient mythology in her historical development, M., 1957; Vürtheim, J., Europa, Amst., 1924.
A. F. Losev.
Preserved monuments ancient art devoted to the plot of the abduction of E. (works of Greek plastic and vase painting, Roman mosaics, frescoes in Pompeii). IN European art this plot was developed first in medieval book miniatures (mainly in illustrations for Ovid), in the Renaissance - in painting and plastic, and remained popular until the middle. 18th century (A. Dürer, Raphael, Titian, J. Bassano, J. Vasari, J. Tintoretto, P. Veronese, Agostino and Annibale Carracci, G. Reni, J. Jordaens, Rembrandt, C. Lorrain, A. Kuapel, A. Watteau, F. Boucher and others). Among the works of plastic art of the Renaissance is the relief of Filaret on the bronze doors of St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome (15th century). From operas of the 18th-20th centuries. the most significant "Abduction of E." D. Millau.
(Source: "Myths of the peoples of the world".)
EuropeThe ancient pre-Greek deity of agriculture, in later legends, the daughter of the Phoenix. In the widespread version of the myth, the daughter of the king of the Phoenician city of Sidon Agenor, the granddaughter of Poseidon and Livia, the sister of Cadmus, Phoenix and Kilik. She was abducted by Zeus, who turned into a bull. On the back of this bull, Europe swam across the sea and ended up in Crete, where Zeus married her and she gave birth to Minos, Sarpedon and Rhadamanthus. Leaving Crete, Zeus gave Europe as his wife to Asterius, the king of Crete, and ordered him to adopt his sons.
The name Europe - "wide-eyed" - is an epithet of the Moon and indicates archaic origin beloved of Zeus. Europa was often identified with Demeter, Selene and other goddesses. The name of the eponymous part of the world is also associated with the name of Europe. According to legend, one day she had a dream that Asia and the mainland that is separated from Asia by the sea, in the form of two women, were fighting for her. Asia was defeated, and the second mainland was named after Europe.
// TITIAN: The Rape of Europe // N.A. Kuhn: EUROPE
(Source: "Myths of Ancient Greece. Dictionary Reference." EdwART, 2009.)
EUROPEThe king of the rich Phoenician city of Sidon, Agenor, had three sons and a daughter, beautiful as an immortal goddess. The name of this young beauty was Europe. I once had a dream of Agenor's daughter. She saw how Asia and that continent that is separated from Asia by the sea fought for her in the form of two women. Every woman wanted to own Europe. Asia was defeated, and she, who brought up and nurtured Europe, had to give way to another. In fear, Europe woke up, she could not understand the meaning of this dream. The young daughter of Agenor humbly began to pray that the gods would avert misfortune from her if sleep threatened them. Then, dressed in purple clothes woven with gold, she went with her friends to a green meadow covered with flowers, to the seashore. There, frolicking, the Sidonian virgins collected flowers in their golden baskets. They collected fragrant, snow-white daffodils, colorful crocuses, violets and lilies. The very same daughter of Agenor, 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 with laughter. Their young voices carried far across the flowering meadow and the azure sea, drowning out its quiet gentle splash.
It did not take long to enjoy the beautiful Europe of a carefree life. Her son Krona, the mighty cloudworm Zeus, saw her and decided to kidnap her. In order not to frighten young Europe with his appearance, he took the form of a wonderful bull. All the wool 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 young month when first seen in the rays of a purple sunset. A wonderful bull appeared in the clearing and with light steps, barely touching the grass, went up to the virgins. The maidens of Sidon were not afraid of him, they surrounded the marvelous animal and stroked it affectionately. 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 with her tender hand over the golden wool, hugged his head and kissed him. The bull lay down at the feet of the beautiful maiden, as if asking her to sit on it.
Laughing, Europe sat down on the bull's broad back. Other girls wanted to sit next to her. Suddenly the bull jumped up and quickly rushed to the sea. He stole the one he wanted. The Sidonian women cried out loudly from fright. Europe stretched out its hands to them and called them for help; but the virgins of Sidon 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 down like diamonds from his wool, without wetting it. Beautiful Nereids surfaced 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, sails ahead on his chariot, he tames the waves with his trident, leveling the path along the sea to his great brother Zeus. Trembling with fear, Europa sits on the back of a bull. With one hand she holds on to his golden horns, while with the other she gathers up the edge of her purple dress so that it does not get wet. sea waves. In vain she is afraid; the sea gently rustles, and its salty splashes do not reach her. The sea wind sways the curls of Europe and flutters her light veil. The coast is farther and farther, now he has disappeared into the blue distance. Only the sea is around blue sky. Soon they appeared in the sea gave the coast of Crete. Zeus the bull quickly sailed to him with his precious burden and went ashore. Europa became the wife of Zeus, and she has lived since then in Crete. Three sons were born to her and Zeus: Minos, Radamanths and Sarpedon. The glory of these mighty and wise sons of the Thunderer Zeus thundered all over the world.
(Source: "Legends and Myths of Ancient Greece". N. A. Kun.)
Painting of a red-figure crater by the "Berlin artist".
Around 490 BC e.
Tarquinia.
Archaeological Museum.
Painting by V. A. Serov.
1910.
Moscow.
Tretyakov Gallery.
Painting by C. Lorrain.
1655.
Moscow.
Museum fine arts named after A. S. Pushkin.
The abduction of Europe. Metope of the temple "Small Metopes" in Selinunte. Around 550 BC
Synonyms:
See what "Europe" is in other dictionaries:
Europe Plus Europe Plus City Moscow Country ... Wikipedia
Europe- Europe ♦ Europe Europe is not really a continent, but a cape of Asia. This is not a state, but a community, which also consists of independent states. How many wars they waged among themselves in the past! What clashes of interests and ambitions are raging... ... Philosophical Dictionary of Sponville
Part of the world, app. part of the Eurasian continent. The name was put into use to designate a part of the world in other Greek. scientists Hecataeus and Herodotus in the VI-V centuries. BC e. There are two explanations for the origin of this name. According to one of them, Europe from ... ... Geographic Encyclopedia
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- (Europe), (E capital), Europe, pl. Europe (only colloquial joke. ironic.), wives. 1. The name of one of the five parts of the world. || Countries, states located in this part of the world, peoples living in it. || trans. Same as Western Europe, zap… … Dictionary Ushakov
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Europe- EUROPE, the fourth largest part of the world. Actually Continental. part E. lies in the limits: on p. m. Nord Kap in Norway, on the z. m. Roca in Spain, to the south. m. Tarifa in Spain and in. Mount Kayudy Pai in the Urals. ridge. In these ... ... Military Encyclopedia
Europe- (Rakhiv, Ukraine) Hotel category: Address: Mira Street 42, Rakhiv, 90640, Ukraine … Hotel catalog
- (Greek Europe, from Assyrian erebus west; in ancient Greece, the territories lying to the west of the Aegean m. were called so) part of the world, west. part of the Eurasian continent. General information. Pl. E. ok. 10 million km2, incl. the island accounts for approx. 730 thousand… … Geological Encyclopedia
- (Greek Europe). According to Greek mythology: the daughter of the Phoenician king Agenor, kidnapped by Jupiter. One of the 5 parts of the world is named after her. 2) educated peoples app. Europe and their culture. Dictionary of foreign words included in the Russian language. ... ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language