WebEuropa on the back of Zeus turned into a bull. A fresco at Pompeii, contemporaneous with Ovid. In Greek mythology, Europa ( / jʊəˈroʊpə, jə -/; Ancient Greek: Εὐρώπη, Eurṓpē, Attic Greek pronunciation: [eu̯.rɔ̌ː.pɛː]) was a Phoenician princess from Tyre, Lebanon and the mother of King Minos of Crete.