In Greek mythology, Zeus became a bull when he carried Europa away to Crete.
The myth says Zeus noticed Europa, a Phoenician princess, gathering flowers near the shore. He transformed himself into a gentle white bull and mixed with her father’s herds. When Europa climbed onto his back, Zeus crossed the sea and took her to Crete.
On Crete, Europa became the mother of Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Sarpedon in different mythological traditions. Zeus later gave her gifts, including the bronze guardian Talos, and placed the bull among the stars as the constellation Taurus in some accounts.
The story explains the name Europe in later traditions, although ancient sources vary on the details. Zeus’s bull disguise is distinct from his eagle form, which was associated with Ganymede and his divine imagery.