Our ignorance and silence will
forever remain our greatest crime!

I will never forget one of the many hot summer nights of August 2007. This special middle-aged couple made their way up to the roof garden of the “Central Hotel” to enjoy the breathtaking city view and cool off with a drink.
‘Good evening, how are you?’ I remember them asking as if this had all occurred yesterday.
‘I am very well thank you,’ I said to them before the gentleman started with the typical questions.
‘Your English accent is somewhat different to that of the native speakers. Have you lived in an English speaking country?’
I went into a brief explanation of how I spent the first seventeen or so years of my life growing up in Melbourne, Australia before my family and I decided to return to our native Greece. It was at that moment when I decided to ask them where are they from.
‘We are from Europe,’ the couple told me with a sense of pride.
‘Ah, so you must be from the Greek island of Crete,’ I immediately came to conclude as I placed the tray on the table next to theirs.
‘No,’ they replied in an attempt to correct me, ‘we are from Brussels, Belgium, the city where the whole European idea was created.’
‘Forgive me for what I am about to say, but fact has it that the European idea was introduced thousands of years before our time on the island of Crete!’
‘According to whom?’ the lady inquired quite confused before I started to present them with my version of the facts.
‘Have either of you heard of the myth that talks about the “Abduction of Europe”?’ I asked.
‘No we have not,’ they both confessed in a confused manner as they started to look at one another deep in the eyes.
‘Are you at all familiar with “Zeus”, the God from Greek Mythology?’ I asked while I offered them a cigarette.
‘What’s your point?’ the lady inquired as I tried to explain my argument.
‘According to Greek Mythology, “Zeus” was the King of the Gods, the ruler of Mount Olympus and also the God of the Sky!’
‘Hold on one minute. What does Greek Mythology have to do with the whole European idea?’ the Gentleman intervenes to ask.
‘It has everything to do with it,’ I replied before I asked them, ‘may I have five minutes of your time to explain my argument?’
‘Shoot away,’ they told me.

‘The story began when the virgin Europe caught Zeus’ attention. He fell in love with the beautiful young mortal from the first moment he laid eyes on her.
His lust for seduction was so great that he decided to transform into a tame white bull when the sweet and innocent virgin was gathering flowers.
For some strange reason Europe did not fear this particular bull. She started to caress its flanks before she finally got onto its back.
Zeus grabbed this opportunity to abduct her. He ran out to sea and swam, with Europe on his back, until he reached the island of Crete.
Zeus revealed his true identity before he asked Europe for her hand in marriage. Europe gladly accepted and became the first Queen of Crete.
Zeus re-created the shape of the white bull in the stars, which is now known as the constellation “Taurus”.
Three years later and after the birth of their second son, Zeus decided to name the entire continent “Europe” in dedication and respect for his beloved wife. This is how the name of the European Continent came to be.’

‘Oh my God. You have left me completely speechless,’ the lady cried out with enthusiasm when at the same time, her husband turned to ask, ‘why have we not been given access to this type of knowledge?’
‘The knowledge has always been there. The problem is that most people are too busy to reach out and grab it!’


Image Link:
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