|
THE ENAMOURED GOD ZEUS APPROACHES EUROPA, IN THE GUISE OF A BULL.... Europa's Myth, source of inspiration.  Princess Europa surrenders to the god Zeus who is in the guise of a bull. Note how truimphant Zeus is that his trick has been successful.  Europa's trustThe trust Europa has in Zeus, in the guise of a bull, is great, as can be seen by the positioning of his horns. 'Europa' has been derived from the old Phoenician 'Ereb', meaning sunset. Europa was the daugther of the Phoenician King and Queen, Ageonor (son to Poseidon) and Telephassa. The enamoured god Zeus approaches Europa in the guise of a bull. He manages to win her trust and persuades her to sit on his back, then he takes her out to sea and swims to Crete, Zeus' home. There he reveals his true identity and seduces her on Mount Dikte. Europa falls pregnant and will eventually bear 3 children to Zeus, Minos (later to become king of Crete), Rhadamathys and Sarpedon. She will later marry king Asterion, who names the continent after his beautiful wife Europa. Inspired by this theme four sculptures have been hereto created, each portraying different stages in the myth and the feelings associated with them. The sculptures were moulded during the summer of 2003 during the 'Open Studio Months' in Oirschot, The Netherlands, and casted in 2004.  The enamoured god Zeus comes up with a plan to seduce beautiful Princess Europa. He decides to secretly approach her in the guise of a bull  Running bull one in France Sculpture moulded in France as a preliminary to the 'Abduction of Europa' series.  Zeus, in the guise of a bull, abducts Princess Europa. Try-out for the bigger 2004 version |
||
 |
||
Webdesign Toon v. Ramshorst