After Botero Bronze Rape of Europa. Iconic Fernando Botero Image. Originating in Greek myth and popularized in Ovid’s Metamorphoses, the tale of the Rape of Europa has captivated audiences for centuries. Finding himself infatuated with the Phoenician princess Europa, Zeus, king of the gods, transforms himself into a bull in order to seduce her. He joins a herd of her father’s cattle grazing by the seashore, and the princess, attracted to friendly and gentle creature, comes over to sit with him. She eventually climbs playfully onto his back, at which moment Zeus bolts into the sea, dragging Europa helplessly across the waves to the island of Crete where he proceeds to ravish her. She then gives birth to Minos, the first king of the island, who establishes the Minoan civilization The original and appraised between 1.5 and 2 million dollars. Size: 11 1/4 x 8 1/4 x 13 3/8 in. #2575