Myths -Taurus

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	Taurus, the Bull

	The King of Phoenicia had a beautiful daughter called Princess Europa. The princess led her life within the perimeter of the King's palace and was unaware of the happenings in the world outside of the palace. One night a woman came to her in a dream and told her that it was her destiny to become Jupiter's lover. The woman in the dream also indicated that she would bring Europa to Jupiter.
	The following day Princess Europa and a group of hand maidens were out picking flowers in a meadow by the sea. It was here that Jupiter first saw her and was awed by her beauty. Jupiter wanted Europa but knew that she would run from him if he presented himself in his natural god image. He decided to change himself into a bull in order to lure her to him. He became a great white bull with horns of jewels and a crescent moon in the middle of his forehead, which was made of silver.
	As Europa became fascinated by this bull's gentleness and beauty, she began to caress the bull and finally climbed onto his back. Jupiter, seeing his opportunity, flew off with her on his back to the island of Crete. On Crete, he changed himself back into his own image and declared his love for her. He and Europa became lovers even though Jupiter already had a wife. Shortly after, Venus, the goddess of love, visited Europa and confessed that she was the woman in Europa's dream. Venus then told her that the continent surrounding Crete would be known as Europe from that day on. Europa had three children by Jupiter and to honor their love and children, Jupiter placed the bull in the stars in the constellation Taurus.