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Zeus. Painting by Gordon Dean.


Tyre (TYE-ur). Ancient city in what is now Lebanon. In myth, Europa was a princess of Tyre. One day she was gathering wildflowers in a seaside meadow when she came upon a beautiful white bull. This bull was uncommonly gentle and did not inspire fear. Decking its horns with flowers, Europa was at length emboldened to climb upon its back. Whereupon the bull - actually the god Zeus in disguise - took off at a trot and dove into the sea. Europa was carried off to the island of Crete, where she became the mother of King Minos.