L'évolution du mythe d'Europe dans l'iconographie grecque et romaine des VIIe-VIe s. avant aux Ve-VIe s. de notre ère : de la « déesse au taureau » au rapt et du rapt au consentement

Abstract

Marc C. Peeters, The evolution of the myth of Europe in the Greek and Roman iconography from the VIIth- VIth c. B.C. to the Vth-VIth c. A.D. from the "goddess on the bull" to the abduction and from abduction to consent, DHA 35/1, 2009, 61-82. Abstract : Among the oldest Greek representations of a female sitting side-saddle on a bull, some hardly évoque the image of an abduction. On the other hand, Wattel - de Croizant (1995) observes, at a later period, that the abduction of Europe progressively evolves into a love scene. This study sought to follow the evolution of these representations through the attitudes and attributes of Europe and the bull from the Greek VII-VIth centuries to the Roman V-VIth centuries. As a result, three historical phases are proposed for these representations of a female sitting on a bull. At first, a goddess sits enthroned on the back of the bull or dominates him. Later, in a break with the past, she is degraded, as Europe, to the status of a simple mortal being abducted by the main god. Finally, she is shown in an acquiescing posture or as a seduced woman in love with her abductor.