Europa Cretensium regina · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: Europa Cretensium regina
Subject: Important Women; Famous Women; Gods; Jupiter; Abduction; Roman Mythology; Europa
Period: 1450-1500;
Geographic: Phoenicia; 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. 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 while guiding her to the shore. 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 Jupiter. 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:18131
Language: lat
Source Name: Iohannis Bocacij in librum de claris mulieribus
Parent Collection: 1487 Leuven; 1487 Leuven
Image: mta_18131_OBJ.jpg
Collection: Early Modern Women
Subject: Important Women; Famous Women; Gods; Jupiter; Abduction; Roman Mythology; Europa