EPISODE 29

IN THE COURSE OF WHICH ZEUS FALLS IN LOVE WITH EUROPA

Previously: Hermes has witnessed the war of the gods. It was Zeus who won the victory in the end. And now he is king of the world.

As he was returning home, Hermes could feel that he had grown up. He knew now by what means his father had conquered power. Zeus alone had known how to bring order to the disorder.

Hermes was happy to find himself again on Olympus. Zeus was leaning against the parapet of one of the terraces of the palace when Hermes arrived. He was so busy looking at something on earth that he did not see his young son come near him. Hermes leant over to see what was fascinating his father down below, and he too was seduced by the sight.

In the middle of a flowering meadow by the seashore, a group of young girls were chasing one another, laughing. Their arms were laden with spring flowers. One could see the purple of the bluebells, the white of the daffodils, the yellow of the crocuses and the red of roses blending with the green, wavy grass—and it was a glorious image. One of the young girls attracted their gaze more than the others. She was wearing a long red dress, her hair was braided and she carried in her arms a basket glinting with gold. Hermes looked at his father and understood immediately: once again Zeus had fallen in love.

When Zeus finally became aware of Hermes’ presence, he beckoned to him to follow him. The two of them descended on earth, and in order to approach the young girls without frightening them, they sneaked in among a herd of cows grazing nearby. Zeus turned himself into a splendid bull. He had a silver disc in the middle of his forehead, a horn in the shape of a crescent moon and his skin was a beautiful chestnut colour. The young girls were instantly attracted by the exceptional beauty of this bull. The one with whom Zeus had fallen in love approached the animal. She began to stroke it gently, to decorate its horns with garlands of flowers, and to hum in its ear. Her companions, seeing her go off side by side with the bull, called her back: “Europa, come back!” they cried.

Europa no longer listened to them, however. She had reached the seashore and was still playing with the bull. Hermes, who had assumed the form of a cow, was laughing inwardly at his father’s ruse. He saw him lie down on the sand, in this manner inviting Europa to climb on his back. The young girl did not hesitate and she sat astride the bull. He dashed off immediately into the sea. He entered the tide and began to swim as fast as he could, carrying off Europa with him. They were getting far away from the shore and soon they were surrounded by a shoal of sea deities: there were Nereids, the deities of the Water, astride dolphins, and there were Tritons, who were half-men and half-fish, and who blew into great conch shells; even Poseidon escorted them, standing on his chariot, his trident in his hand.

“Where are you taking me? And who are you?” cried Europa in the bull’s ear, a little frightened by these strange companions.

“Have no fear, beautiful child, I am the all-powerful Zeus, and I am taking you to Crete, the island where I was raised. You will be well received there,” answered the god of gods.

Hermes watched this splendid procession spellbound. Europa’s long red dress flapped in the wind almost like a ship’s sail.

Soon the island of Crete came into sight. Zeus thanked all who had accompanied them and sent them back into the sea. He set Europa down gently on the sand and resumed his true form. Then he discreetly bid Hermes farewell, and the young messenger left his father to his new love.

When he reached Olympus once more, Hermes was astonished that the jealous white-armed Hera had not interfered. But she was too busy looking after her young son Ares, the god of War. Ares never stopped bragging. “I am the strongest. I am the best,” he repeated all day long. This little upstart had managed to irritate all the gods and goddesses of Olympus. Yet the worst of it was that Ares tried to pick a fight with everyone. He bumped into people without apologizing, or he made fun of them, or again he insulted them. The moment he crossed paths with anyone, it always ended up in a quarrel.

Hermes detested Ares. He tried to avoid meeting him in the corridors, preferring to keep as far away as possible from his violence. “I have to show myself as canny as my father,” he told himself. “He at least knows how to use his wits…”

 

To be continued…