Картины художника Евгения Шишкина Санкт-Петербург

The Abduction of Europa

The Abduction of Europa. size 29 х 22 cm

The Abduction of Europa. size 29 х 22 cm

The paiting The Abduction of Europa by artist written in mixed media

The mythographers tell that Zeus was enamored of Europa and decided to seduce or ravish her, the two being near-equivalent in Greek myth. He transformed himself into a tame white bull and mixed in with her father’s herds. While Europa and her helpers were gathering flowers, she saw the bull, caressed his flanks, and eventually got onto his back. Zeus took that opportunity and ran to the sea and swam, with her on his back, to the island of Crete. He then revealed his true identity, and Europa became the first queen of Crete. Zeus gave her a necklace made by Hephaestus and three additional gifts: Talos, Laelaps and a javelin that never missed. Zeus later re-created the shape of the white bull in the stars, which is now known as the constellation Taurus. Some readers interpret as manifestations of this same bull the Cretan beast that was encountered by Heracles, the Marathonian Bull slain by Theseus (and that fathered the Minotaur). Roman mythology adopted the tale of the Raptus, also known as “The Abduction of Europa” and “The Seduction of Europa”, substituting the god Jupiter for Zeus.
The myth of Europa and Zeus may have its origin in a sacred union between the Phoenician deities Aštar and Aštart (Astarte), in bovine form. Having given birth to three sons by Zeus, Europa married a king Asterios, this being also the name of the Minotaur and an epithet of Zeus, likely derived from the name Aštar.
According to Herodotus’ rationalizing approach, Europa was kidnapped by Minoans who were seeking to avenge the kidnapping of Io, a princess from Argos. His variant story may have been an attempt to rationalize the earlier myth; or the present myth may be a garbled version of facts—the abduction of a Phoenician aristocrat—later enunciated without gloss by Herodotus.


Thaw
Oil
Thaw
Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Prague
Author's technique, Prague
Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Prague
Church of St. Catherine, St. Petersburg
Author's technique, Saint Petersburg
Church of St. Catherine, St. Petersburg
At bay
Oil
At bay
Five Corners. St. Petersburg
Oil, Saint Petersburg
Five Corners. St. Petersburg
Morning
Oil
Morning
Cadet line, St. Petersburg
Author's technique, Saint Petersburg
Cadet line, St. Petersburg
Cathedral of St. Nicholas, Prague
Author's technique, Prague
Cathedral of St. Nicholas, Prague
Sunny day
Oil
Sunny day
The Abduction of Europa
Author's technique
The Abduction of Europa
Flood
Oil
Flood
Twilight
Author's technique
Twilight
Still Life with Fish
Author's technique
Still Life with Fish
Lilac
Oil
Lilac
Walk
Oil
Walk
Man and woman
Author's technique
Man and woman
Bolshaya Podyacheskaya street
Author's technique, Saint Petersburg
Bolshaya Podyacheskaya street
Malaya Morskaya Street. St. Petersburg
Oil, Saint Petersburg
Malaya Morskaya Street. St. Petersburg
The Abduction of Europa
Author's technique
The Abduction of Europa
Irises
Oil
Irises
Irises
Oil
Irises
Morning
Oil
Morning
Bolshaya Podyacheskaya street. St. Petersburg
Oil, Saint Petersburg
Bolshaya Podyacheskaya street. St. Petersburg
Bath
Author's technique
Bath
Sisyphus
Mixed
Sisyphus
On the beach
Oil
On the beach
Artifacts
Author's technique
Artifacts
Nicholas Cathedral
Author's technique, Helsinki
Nicholas Cathedral
Konnogvardeysky Boulevard. St. Petersburg
Author's technique, Saint Petersburg
Konnogvardeysky Boulevard. St. Petersburg
Helsinki
Author's technique, Helsinki
Helsinki
Summer day
Oil
Summer day
Kryukov Canal. St. Petersburg
Author's technique, Saint Petersburg
Kryukov Canal. St. Petersburg
May morning
Oil
May morning
Sisyphus
Author's technique
Sisyphus
Irises
Oil
Irises
Church of St. George
Oil
Church of St. George
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