Europa and the Bull

The story of Europa is that she's abducted by Zeus, who changed himself into white bull to seduce her, of which made Europa the Queen of Crete. The concept of rape and seduction in Greek myths is fascinating, in that it reflect reality without prescriptive morality. The greek myth's portrayal of gods and mortals, their desires and wantings, are exceedingly human.

In Europa's story is a character Talos, which is perhaps the first ever concept of a robot. Talos is a automaton, who throw rocks at ships encroaching Europa's island Crete! Of interest is how the robot was eventually defeated. Talos is one of the gift Zeus gave to Europa after mating her. The other 2 gifts are Laelaps and a javelin that never missed. Laelaps is a dog that will never fail to catch the prey. This dog, was later pitted with the Teumessian_fox , a fox that could never be caught. Here we have a paradox. Read how it is resolved.

A poignancy of love we should note here is that, after Zeus took Europa, she is made a Queen of a large island, with 3 most wondrous gifts. This is in contrast to modern society of myriad of sexual and marital laws, yet full of animosity between the sexes.

Zeus changed himself into a beautiful white bull to seduce Europa. Europa hop onto, and Zeus ran off. They had several children: Minos, Rhadamanthys, Sarpedon, Crete, Dodon, Alagonia, Carnus

Zeus gave Europa a island, Crete, and 3 other gifts:

• Talos, a giant automaton (robot), protecting Europa in Crete from pirates/invaders.
• A javelin that never missed!
• Laelaps is a dog that never fails to catch the prey!

Here's a description of abduction of Europa in Metamorphoses (poem) by Ovid (43 BC to 17 AD).

And gradually she lost her fear, and he
Offered his breast for her virgin caresses,
His horns for her to wind with chains of flowers
Until the princess dared to mount his back
Her pet bull's back, unwitting whom she rode.
Then — slowly, slowly down the broad, dry beach —
First in the shallow waves the great god set
His spurious hooves, then sauntered further out
'til in the open sea he bore his prize
Fear filled her heart as, gazing back, she saw
The fast receding sands. Her right hand grasped
A horn, the other lent upon his back
Her fluttering tunic floated in the breeze.

Talos a giant automaton made of bronze to protect Europa in Crete from pirates and invaders. He circled the island's shores three times daily. 〔see Jargon Automata in Finite State Automata〕

modern

here's a grotesque one. it has a bdsm feel.