The Evolution of the Myth of Europe in Greek and Roman Iconography from the 7th–6th centuries B.C. to the 5th–6th centuries A.D. From the Goddess on the Bull to the Abduction and from Abduction to Consent
Peeters, Marc C.
The Evolution of the Myth of Europe in Greek and Roman Iconography from the 7th–6th centuries B.C. to the 5th–6th centuries A.D. From the Goddess on the Bull to the Abduction and from Abduction to Consent - 2009.
45
Among the oldest Greek representations of a female sitting side-saddle on a bull, some hardly evoque the image of an abduction. On the other hand, Wattel – de Croizant (1995) observes, at a later period, that the abduction of Europe progressively evolves into a love scene. This study sought to follow the evolution of these representations through the attitudes and attributes of Europe and the bull from the Greek VII-VIth centuries to the Roman V-VIth centuries. As a result, three historical phases are proposed for these representations of a female sitting on a bull. At first, a goddess sits enthroned on the back of the bull or dominates him. Later, in a break with the past, she is degraded, as Europe, to the status of a simple mortal being abducted by the main god. Finally, she is shown in an acquiescing posture or as a seduced woman in love with her abductor.
The Evolution of the Myth of Europe in Greek and Roman Iconography from the 7th–6th centuries B.C. to the 5th–6th centuries A.D. From the Goddess on the Bull to the Abduction and from Abduction to Consent - 2009.
45
Among the oldest Greek representations of a female sitting side-saddle on a bull, some hardly evoque the image of an abduction. On the other hand, Wattel – de Croizant (1995) observes, at a later period, that the abduction of Europe progressively evolves into a love scene. This study sought to follow the evolution of these representations through the attitudes and attributes of Europe and the bull from the Greek VII-VIth centuries to the Roman V-VIth centuries. As a result, three historical phases are proposed for these representations of a female sitting on a bull. At first, a goddess sits enthroned on the back of the bull or dominates him. Later, in a break with the past, she is degraded, as Europe, to the status of a simple mortal being abducted by the main god. Finally, she is shown in an acquiescing posture or as a seduced woman in love with her abductor.
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