An astronomical (and mythological) brain teaser

[JamesF]

Heard at the end of this week's "Round Britain Quiz" so I thought I'd share it:

Quote

In what sense do a beautiful cup-bearer, the mother of King Minos of Crete, a priestess transformed into a cow, and a nymph transformed into a bear, now encircle their lover?

How far can you get without resorting to a search engine?

James

[Davey-T]

Moons of Jupiter ?

Dave

[ShrewView]

First thought was constellations but then thought moons of Jupiter.

Beaten to it though.

 

 

[DRT]

42?

[DaveS]

Moons of Jupiter.

The beautiful cup-bearer could be Ganymede, though he had so many it's difficult to be sure (Possibly Europa?), the nymph transformed into a bear was Calisto. The priestess turned into a cow could be Amalthea. Trying to remember the name of Minos's mother. It'll come to me eventually, without googling.

[popeye85]

Moons of jupiter-like others my first thought was constellations but the right answer hit me when I started reading other people's answers! ?