 Roman mythology adopted the tale of the "Raptus", also known as "The Abduction of Europa" and "The Seduction of Europa", substituting the god Jupiter for Zeus.The myth of Europa and Zeus may have its origin in a sacred union between the Phoenician deities `Aštar and `Aštart (Astarte), in bovine form.Having given birth to three sons by Zeus, Europa married a king Asterios, this being also the name of the Minotaur and an epithet of Zeus, likely derived from the name "`Aštar".