By the early third century BC, Gortyna had risen to become the second most powerful city on Crete, after Knossos, and had expanded its influence by conquering Phaistos for its harbor. The coinage struck during this period highlights the myth of Europa, which Gortyna adopted as a means of asserting its supremacy over the island, including over Knossos. The reverse of the coin depicts the bull, the form Zeus took to abduct Europa from Phoenician Tyre, carrying her across the sea to Crete.

Once there, Zeus revealed his true identity to Europa, an event symbolically represented on the coin with Europa seated beneath an eagle, the bird of Zeus, in the boughs of a plane tree. This tree was believed to be the location where their relationship was consummated, and to this day, still stands and remains a tourist attraction in Gortyna.

Europa’s union with Zeus produced three children — Minos, Sarpedon, and Phestos — who became the kings of Knossos, Malia, and Phaistos, respectively. Through this mythical lineage, Gortyna could claim dominance over these neighboring cities as their "mother city." While the myth provided Gortyna with a sense of legitimacy and superiority, the city’s political fortunes shifted dramatically in the following decades. The Lyttian War (220-216 BC) resulted in internal conflict within Gortyna, driven by opposing factions favoring alliances with either Knossos or Lyttos. The war left lasting animosity between Gortyna and Knossos, which may have influenced Gortyna’s continued use of Europa-related coin types as a reminder of its mythological claim to supremacy.

The coin also reflects the broader cultural and mythological ties between the Greek and Semitic worlds, as the Europa myth involves both Greek and Phoenician elements. Europa, depicted here as a queen wearing a polo headdress and holding a bird-tipped scepter, represents her royal status rather than her youth as the pursued maiden. The tree under which she sits on the obverse of the coin also ties into the myth, as it was believed to be the sacred plane tree where Europa’s children were conceived. This tree venerated by the Cretans, was thought to have fertility powers, and modern residents of Gortyna still collect its leaves in hopes of enhancing fertility.

Half stater circa 280-260, AR 6.80 g. Europa, naked to waist and wearing a peplos over her lower limbs, seated three-quarters r. in plane tree, her head facing, holding out her veil with her l. hand and resting her r. on the tree; on her l., an eagle perched. l. on branch, its head turned back towards her. Rev. ΓOPTY – N[...] Bull standing l., looking backwards. BMC 40, pl. XI, cf. 4. Svoronos 106. Le Rider, pl. XLII, 12.

Ex New York sale XXVII, 2012, Prospero 403.