A Load of Bull

Mighty Zeus assumed the form of a white bull,
An impressive beast as you might well imagine.
Mingled with the common herd, and with saffron breath
He seduced Europa as she gathered flowers.

This Phoenician maiden descended from the nymph Io,
who was herself beloved of Zeus in long times past.
Fair Io had been transformed into a white heifer,
To hide from Hera's anger at her husband's infidelity.

Europa who was seduced by this disguised God,
Sat astride his broad bull back as he swam to Crete,
It was in this way she was brought to the continent that
Would one day take her name.

Revealing himself in his true form.
Zeus then prevailed upon Europa to bring forth three sons.
Two of these were Rhadamanthus and Minos,
Who would after death, become judges of the underworld.

And there was Sarpedon who would rule the Milyans,
Living for three generations by Zeus's boon.
Asterion, the King of Crete, took Europa as his Queen.
He treated the three brothers as his own sons.

Upon his death, each vied to be king in his stead.
Minos claimed that he was favoured by the Gods,
For he was wed to Pasiphaë, who was daughter of the Sun God Helios,
And the elder sea nymph, the Oceanid named Perse.

Seeking to strengthen his claim, Minos prayed to Poseidon:

Poseidon, who Sovereign over the sea holds sway
send me the sacrifice that will be most pleasing to you,
That I, Minos, may offer it up this most fair day
to honour you greatly, and give to you your due

The ancient sea God bestowed upon Minos a magnificent white bull
That burst forth virile and powerful from the waves.
So very fine was this creature that foolishly Minos decided to keep it a part of his own herd,
And offered Poseidon inferior animals in its stead.

As punishment Poseidon inflicted upon Minos' wife Pasiphaë
An unnatural desire for his white bull.
Summoning that ingenious artificer Daedalus,
She instructed him to create for her a model of a cow
And to cover in cowhide, wherein she might conceal herself.

Thus she copulated with the white bull, and conceived the Minotaur.
Minos commanded that Daedalus should create the Labyrinth
In which to secure this terrible hybrid creature,
Half man, half bull, that fed on human flesh.

Pasiphaë also had a daughter, and named her Ariadne.
It was Ariadne's love of the hero Theseus,
That brought about the death of the Minotaur.
But that is another myth, for another time.