Definition: Disguised as a bull, the king of the Greek gods, Zeus, carried off Europa, the daughter of Agenor, King of Phoenicia. Although Agenor sent Cadmus to find his sister, Cadmus failed. Instead, he founded Thebes. Cadmus' brother Cilix was also sent off to find his sister, but, instead, he founded Cilicia, in Asia Minor. A 3rd brother founded the island of Thasus off Thrace, naming the island after himself. A 4th brother was named Phoenix, who set off to establish the Phoenicians [note that this doesn't square with the idea that Agenor king of Phoenicia was Europa's father. Phoenix is called her father in Hom. Il. 14.321ff. "Then there was the daughter of Phoenix, who bore me Minos and Rhadamanthus...."].
The Zeus-bull carried Europa to Crete where she became mother to Rhadamanthus and perhaps Sarpedon and Minos, among the judges in the Underworld. Europa later married a descendant of Deucalion, Asterius, king of Crete, after whom King Minos -- of minotaur fame -- ruled.
