Europa (moon) the first time as separate bodies during Galileo's observations of the Jupiter system. Europa is named after Europa, daughter of the king of Tyre, a Phoenician noblewoman in Greek mythology. Like all the Galilean satellites, Europa is named after a lover of Zeus, the Greek counterpart of Jupiter. Europa was courted by Zeus and became the queen of Crete. The naming scheme was suggested by Simon Marius, who discovered the four satellites independently. Marius attributed the proposal to Johannes Kepler. The names fell out of favor for a considerable time and were not revived in general use until the mid-20th
Melissus of Crete Melissus of Crete In Greek mythology, Melisseus (Ancient Greek: Μελισσέως means "bee-man"), the father of the nymphs Adrasteia, Ide (or Idothea or Aega, according to Hyginus) and Althaea who were nurses of the infant Zeus on Crete. Melisseus was the eldest and leader of the nine Kuretes of Crete. They were chthonic "daimones" of Mount Ida, who clashed their spears and shields to drown out the wails of infant Zeus, whom they received from the Great Goddess, Rhea, his mother. The infant-god was hidden from his cannibal father and was raised in the cave that was sacred to the Goddess