How did Europe get its name?
One time, while playing by the seashore, a princess captivated the sight of the sky god Zeus. He descended as a beautiful white bull and gently summoned her to approach. She drew near, reached out to touch him, touched him, and then leaped onto the bull’s ivory back as he carried her to the island of Crete. Beneath an evergreen tree, Zeus revealed his true human form, and they made love. As a result, they bore three children: Minos, Rhadamanthys, and Sarpedon, who later became the three judges of the underworld.
This story is known as the abduction of Europa and has been embraced by numerous artists, including Rembrandt and Goya.
In Greek mythology, Europa is often depicted as a princess, the daughter of the Phoenician King Agenor and Queen Telephasa. She had two brothers, Cadmus and Clix, although some versions mention one or two more.
The continent of Europe, as well as the moon Europa share a connection to the myth of the princess. Many toponyms (names of geographic places) have roots in mythology. Athens is named after Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom; Rome is named after Romulus, the legendary warrior and the founder of the city; and Elysium Mons, a volcano on Mars, is named after a Greek paradise for the departed.
However, the reason why Europa is connected to the continent of Europe is not straightforward. We know that Europe was originally the name for a much smaller area in ancient Greece. The Homeric Hymns, a mostly anonymous collection of hymns dating to the 6th-7th century BC, represent the first document where Europa is mentioned in connection to a place.
And bring to me, all those who have a care
To seek an oracle, those who reside
In rich Peloponnesus, those who bide
In Europe and upon the isles, and I
Will give to all honest advice in my
Rich temple
- The Homeric Hymns, Hymn to Pythian Apollo of, verses 278–283, translated by Christopher Kelk
The development of the concept of Europe and Asia is closely linked to the emergence of Western culture and Eurocentrism in contrast to Eastern traditions. “Europe” served as a cultural label for the region that had once been part of the fallen Western Roman Empire. Geographically, the division between Europe and Asia was never fixed, and the supposed boundaries were continually changing and debated.
This is how Europa, the princess, evolved into Europe, the continent.
Now, let’s explore the origin of the name “Europa.”
While the ancient Greeks often claimed to be the originators of many things, many of their deities and mythological figures have roots in pre-Greek traditions, dating back to the Agricultural Revolution and even earlier. Europa may well be one such figure, emerging before Greek culture took hold. The motif of a deity seducing a woman by transforming into an animal is a recurring theme in prehistoric religions.
Determining the true origin of “Europa” requires linguistic analysis…
The word “Europa” could potentially be composed of two Greek words: “eurys,” meaning “broad,” and “ops,” referring to “face” or “eye.” Similarly, Europa’s mother, Telephasa, was also known as Argiope, meaning “silver face.” Telephasa was associated with the moon, so it’s logical that her alternative name would reference the moon’s “silver face.” 😊
However, the meaning of “broad face” in Europa’s context is not entirely clear. It might relate to her cheeks… but there are more likely explanations.
The term “broad” was often used as an epithet for Earth in Proto-Indo-European religion, so Europa might symbolize the Earth itself. Some scholars also link her name to the Homeric term “eurymetôpos,” meaning “broad-browed,” an epithet applied exclusively to cows. In the story of Europa’s abduction, she mates with a bull, and a cow plays a role in the life of her brother, Cadmus.
Critics argue that “eurymetôpos” and “Europa” are too dissimilar to be connected, making this etymology unlikely. Some even dismiss the Greek etymology of “eurys-ops” (broad face), suggesting that it’s improbable for the ‘y’ in “eurys” to disappear. Following this etymology, the word would be “euryopa,” and this word does exist.
So, perhaps the Greeks adopted an existing foreign word, made it sound Greek, and created folk etymology around it. This theory may seem bold, but I’d say nothing if the Ancient Greeks weren’t famous for doing so.
So, if not the Greeks, then who might be responsible for Europa’s name?
Enter the Phoenicians! Europa was a Phoenician princess, and the Phoenician word for west, or more precisely, “sunset,” is “ereb.” Bear with me; there’s more to this theory. The Phoenician word for sunrise is “asu.” Phoenicia was situated between what we now call Europe and Asia, with “Ereb” denoting “the land where the sun sets” and “Asu” referring to “the land where the sun rises.” This theory offers a plausible explanation for the origins of both Europe and Asia. Another argument in favor of a Semitic origin for Europa is that her brother, Cadmus, whose name is believed to have Phoenician roots, ultimately traces back to the Semitic root ‘qdm,’ another word for “east.”
However, just like previous theories, this one has faced criticism from linguists. They rightly point out that “Ereb” and “Europa” sound different, but remember what we said about the ancient Greeks?
They often altered words to make them sound more Greek. 😉
