According to Myth, Thassos owes its name to Thasus, son of Agenor, who was the king of Tyre or Sidon in Asia. When Zeus took the shape of a bull and stole Europa, her father Agenor ordered his four sons to search for her. He also ordered them not to come back to their birthplace without her. Thus, Phoenix headed southwards, Cilix northwards, and Cadmus wandered around Greece. Thasus (who, according to other versions, was the son of Cilix), after a long journey, reached verdant Thassos, where he stayed – thus giving his name to the island.