Ancient Roman Terracotta Oil Lamp 100 to 200 AD Relief Image of Rape of Europa

Ancient Roman Terracotta Oil Lamp 100 to 200 AD Relief Image of Rape of Europa. Ancient Roman Terracotta Oil Lamp 100 to 200 AD Detailed Relief Image of Rape of Europa, Ancient Roman Empire (Europe, Mediterranean or Middle East).

This ancient Roman oil lamp from the 1st-2nd Century AD has a detailed relief of Europa sitting on the Bull. This has a very old label attached to the base that is no longer legible. Europa Mythology and history: The Dictionary of Classical Mythology explains that Zeus was enamoured of Europa and decided to seduce or rape 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: the bronze automaton guard Talos, the hound Laelaps who never failed to catch his quarry, 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.

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. In Greek mythology, Europa was a Phoenician princess from Tyre and the mother of King Minos of Crete. The continent of Europe is named after her. The story of her abduction by Zeus in the form of a bull was a Cretan story. Europa's earliest literary reference is in the Iliad, which is commonly dated to the 8th century BC. Another early reference to her is in a fragment of the Hesiodic Catalogue of Women, discovered at Oxyrhynchus. The earliest vase-painting securely identifiable as Europa dates from the mid-7th century BC. Measurements: 3 1/2 x 2 3/4 x 7/8 inches.

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