The Taurus Myth

The story of Taurus is most vividly tied to the tale of Zeus and Europa, a myth where the mighty Greek god transformed into a radiant white bull to whisk away the Phoenician princess to Crete, where they wed.

So, does that mean Zeus, the bull, became the Taurus constellation? Not quite. The myth gets murky here, with Zeus and the bull splitting into separate identities—or so it seems.

But there’s another tale, found in the ancient Scrolls of Delphi, that offers a different take on Taurus, one that resonates more deeply with me.

According to these scrolls, the Taurus legend begins with a massive, untamed bull named Cerus. This beast was a force of nature, feared by villagers for his habit of flattening their homes on a whim. No one owned Cerus, and his origins were a mystery. Though mortal, his sheer power and size made people believe he was unstoppable, almost godlike.

Cerus was wild, driven by impulse, trampling wherever his mood took him. One spring day, the goddess Persephone, radiant with the bloom of the season, found him stomping through a meadow of fresh flowers. She approached, unafraid. Though Cerus couldn’t speak, he seemed to sense her gentle presence, and it soothed his restless spirit. A quiet bond formed between them. Persephone, with her patience, taught Cerus to temper his strength and move with purpose.

From then on, each spring when Persephone returns to the earth, Cerus joins her. She rides atop his broad back as he gallops through the fields, her touch coaxing flowers into bloom. In autumn, when Persephone descends to the underworld, Cerus ascends to the heavens, becoming the Taurus constellation, a celestial reminder of their bond.

What’s the Deal with Taurus Mythology?

The Taurus constellation is one of humanity’s oldest symbols, tied to the bull across countless cultures. The Babylonians saw it as a divine bull in the stars. In ancient Egypt, it was linked to Apis, a sacred bull embodying the god Osiris, worshipped in Memphis.

In Greece, the story of Zeus and Europa takes center stage. This myth tells of Zeus, smitten with Europa, the daughter of Phoenician King Agenor and Queen Telephassa. Knowing his divine form might terrify her, Zeus cloaked himself as a majestic white bull, adorned with a crescent moon on his brow and pearly horns that gleamed softly.

One day, as Europa lingered by the shore, she noticed this striking bull grazing among her father’s herd. Drawn to its calm majesty, she approached. The bull knelt before her, inviting her to climb onto its back. Europa, charmed, did so. But as soon as she was seated, the bull surged toward the sea, carrying her across the waves to Crete before she could react.

On Crete, Zeus revealed his true form. He declared his love for Europa, gifting her the land that stretched before her—now known as Europe. Europa became his beloved, bearing him three sons:

• Minos, the future king of Crete, who built the famed labyrinth to cage the Minotaur, later slain by Theseus.
• Rhadamanthys, who earned a place as one of the three Judges of the Dead.
• Sarpedon, founder of the Greek city of Miletus in ancient Anatolia.

Across languages, the name Taurus echoes its bovine essence: from Latin Taurus (the Bull), to Greek Tauros, Akkadian Alap-same (Bull-of-Heaven), and Sumerian Gu.ud an.na (Bull-of-Heaven). It’s a symbol of strength, stubbornness, and stories that span the ages.