The Story of Taurus' Guardian Beast In Greek mythology, the Taurus is represented by a powerful and stubborn bull. The story goes that the goddess Hera, wife of Zeus, sent the Taurus to protect Europa, the daughter of a Phoenician king, from harm. Europa caught the eye of Zeus, who was disguised as a white bull when he approached her on the shore where she and her companions were playing. She was captivated by the friendly bull and eventually climbed on his back. The bull then whisked her away to the Greek island of Crete. Hera soon heard of Zeus' infidelity and decided to send the Taurus to watch over and protect Europa. The Taurus, with its great strength and ferocity, was the perfect guardian for the wayward princess. For many years, the Taurus dutifully guarded Europa, keeping her safe and out of harm's way. However, despite his loyalty to Hera, the Taurus eventually fell in love with Europa, and grew frustrated by being unable to express his feelings. One day, when Europa was almost at the end of her journey, the Taurus could no longer contain his emotions. He charged at the ship carrying Europa and her companions, determined to take her back to Crete as his own. Unfortunately for the Taurus, his love was not meant to be. He was eventually subdued by the gods and cast into the sky as a constellation – forever a reminder of his steadfast protection of Europa. To this day, the Taurus remains a symbol of strength, loyalty and determination – all qualities that are held dear by those born under this zodiac sign. People born under the Taurus sign are known for their practicality, their love of stability and their strong work ethic – all qualities that are exemplified by their powerful guardian beast.