Europa might have become another virgin goddess but Zeus saw to it that this did not happen. Zeus was so struck by her grace and beauty that he abducted her. Disguised as a white bull, he swam to the island of Crete with Europa on his back while her brothers looked for her in vain. There she bore Zeus three sons, Minos, Rhadamanthys and Sarpedon. She was then married to the local ruler Asterius, and in compensation for her virginity, Zeus gave Asterius a mighty bronze man called Talos, to defend his domain..

Europa's association with bulls continued as followers and worshipper sacrificed white bulls to her in Crete and Mycenae.