De Europa cretensium regina · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: De Europa cretensium regina
Subject: Goddesses; Europa; Jupiter; Roman Mythology; Greek Mythology; Abduction
Period: 1450-1500;
Geographic: Ancient Greece; Crete
Description: This engraving illustrates the beautiful Europa being kidnapped by Jupiter. Europa is depicted in the foreground of the engraving with a crown on her head and a long staff in her left hand. The creator engraved her name above her head in order to be identified. Boccaccio explains that Europa was following her father's heard of cattle to the shores of Phoenicia because a panderer had convinced her to do so. The panderer is depicted with his arm linked around Europa’s right arm, and him guiding her. The cattle are clustered around Europa’s feet. The background of the engraving depicts the kidnapping. The panderer lead Europa to a ship which carried the god Jupiter. Jupiter’s name is engraved above his head. Jupiter’s arms are depicted around the waist of Europa as he is lifting her onto the ship to take her to Crete.
Image Creator: Anonymous (Engraver)
Type: Text; Woodcut Engraving
Identifier: mta:11910
Language: spa
Source Name: De Claris Mulieribus
Parent Collection: 1473 Ulm; 1473 Ulm
Image: mta_11910_OBJ.jpg
Collection: Early Modern Women
Subject: Goddesses; Europa; Jupiter; Roman Mythology; Greek Mythology; Abduction