Interpretation There were two competing mythsBibliotheke 3.1.1. relating how Europa came into the Hellenic world, but they agreed that she came to Crete (Kríti), where the sacred bull was paramount. In the more familiar telling she was seduced by the god Zeus in the form of a bull, who breathed from his mouth a saffron crocus and carried her away to Crete on his back—to be welcomed by Asterion,According to the scholium on Iliad XII.292, noted in Karl Kerenyi (1996) Dionysus: Archetypal Image of Indestructible Life p. 105. . Pausanias rendered the name Asterion (2.31.1); in Bibliotheke (3.1.4) it is Asterion. but according to the more literal, euhemerist version that begins the account of Persian-Hellene confrontations of Herodotus,Herodotus, Histories I.1; the act is made out to be a revenge for the previous "kidnapping" of Io. she was kidnapped by Cretans, who likewise were said to have taken her to Crete. The mythical Europa cannot be separated from the mythology of the sacred bull, which had been worshipped in the Levant. In 2012, an archaeological mission of the British Museum led by Lebanese archaeologist, Claude Doumet-Serhal, discovered at the site of the old American school in Sidon, Lebanon currency that depicts Europa riding the bull with her veil flying all over like a bow, further proof of Europa's Phoenician origin.
intErprEtaTion tHerE were twO coMpeting mYThSBIbliothekE 3.1.1. rElatIng How europA caMe iNTo thE helLenIc world, but They AGReed tHat she caMe To cretE (kRÍti), where the sAcred bulL was pAramount. in the MoRe FAMIliar teLliNg She wAs sedUcEd by The goD zeUs iN The FOrm oF A bull, who breATHED from his moUth a SAFfroN crOcuS AnD caRrieD her aWay To creTe on HIs BAck—to Be WelcOmeD bY AstERiOn,ACCoRdIng to The schoLium ON Iliad xIi.292, noted in karL KeRenyi (1996) dionySuS: ArcHEtYPAl image of iNDesTructible lIfe P. 105. . PAusAniAs ReNdered The Name aSTerIoN (2.31.1); in BibliotHeKe (3.1.4) it is aSTeRiOn. But AcCOrDinG tO ThE more LitERAL, euhEmeRiST VeRSioN THat bEgINs THe aCcount of Persian-hEllenE coNfrOntaTionS oF HERoDOtuS,Herodotus, histories i.1; the act is Made OUt TO be a reveNge for the PRevIous "kidNAPPing" OF IO. she waS kIdNApped by CretaNs, WHo LikeWise Were Said To have TakEn hEr to crete. The mYtHIcal Europa cAnnot be sepARated froM thE MythOlogy of THe saCRed bull, WhicH had been worshIpped in the lEvant. in 2012, an ArchAEoLoGICal MISsioN of The BritIsh museuM led bY lEBanese archaeoloGist, cLaude Doumet-sErhal, DIscovEred at the SIte of the OlD aMEricAn sChOoL IN sidon, lebanoN CurreNCy that depicts euRopa Riding tHE bull WiTH her vEil fLyINg alL OVeR lIKe a bow, fUrthER PrOof of EuRoPa's phoenician oRiGin.