Eurōpa

, one of the three grand divisions of the earth known among the ancients, extending, according to modern surveys, about 3000 miles from north to south, and 2500 from east to west. Though inferior in extent, yet it is superior to the others in the learning, power, and abilities of its inhabitants. It is bounded on the east by the Ægean sea, Hellespont, Euxine, Palus Mæotis, and the Tanais in a northern direction. The Mediterranean divides it from Africa on the south, and on the west and north it is washed by the Atlantic and northern oceans. It is supposed to receive its name from Europa, who was carried there by Jupiter. Mela , bk. 2 , ch. 1 .— Pliny , bk. 3 , ch. 1 , . — Lucan , bk. 3 , li. 275 .— Virgil , Æneid , bk. 7 , li. 222 .――A daughter of Agenor king of Phœnicia and Telepha a. She was so beautiful that Jupiter became enamoured of her, and the better to seduce her he a umed the shape of a bull and mingled with the herds of Agenor, while Europa, with her female attendants, were gathering flowers in the meadows. Europa care ed the beautiful animal, and at last had the courage to sit upon his back. The god took advantage of her situation, and with precipitate steps retired towards the shore, and cro ed the sea with Europa on his back, and arrived safe in Crete. Here he a umed his original shape, and declared his love. The nymph consented, though she had once made vows of perpetual celibacy, and she became mother of Minos, Sarpedon, and Rhadamanthus. After this distinguished amour with Jupiter, she married Asterius king of Crete. This monarch, seeing himself without children by Europa, adopted the fruit of her amours with Jupiter, and always esteemed Minos, Sarpedon, and Rhadamanthus as his own children. Some suppose that Europa lived about 1552 years before the christian era. Ovid , Metamorphoses , bk. 2 , fable 13.— Moschus , Idylls .— Apollo dor us , bk. 2 , ch. 5 ; bk. 3 , ch. 1 .――One of the Oceanides. Hesiod , Theogony , li. 356 .――A part of Thrace near mount Hæmus. Justin , bk. 7 , ch. 1 .