The opera takes place in Tyre in Phoenicia and tells a story of love, violence and political discord in ancient times.

Musically, the opera is quite challenging, requiring four principal singers capable of spanning wide tessituras, sustaining long phrases, and making dextrous leaps.

The opera was not performed again until 7 December 2004 for the re-opening of La Scala, after the theater had been closed for almost three years for major renovations.

Their plans to wed are ruined when the king of Crete, Asterio, abducts Europa from her father’s palace and forces her to marry him.

After Agenore’s death, Asterio sails from Crete towards Tyre in the hopes of placing Europa on the Tyrian throne.

Asterio, his wife Europa, and their son step off their boat onto the shore and are startled by the appearance of Egisto and his band of armed soldiers.

Asterio manages to hide Europa in a cave, but is unable to save himself, his men, and his son from capture.

She asks Egisto to assemble the grand council so that she can announce the name of the man she has chosen to marry, who will become the next king of Tyre.

Semele informs Isséo of her desire to share the Tyrian throne with him, and then asks him to attend the grand council with her.

Egisto foils her plan by reminding Semele of her promise to Agenore to marry the man that kills the first foreigner to set foot on Tyrian soil.

Egisto is furious that his plan to obtain the throne is thwarted, while Isséo is greatly disturbed by Europa's reappearance.

Europa offers to relinquish the throne of Tyre to Semele, in exchange for the lives of her husband and son.

The priests of Nemesi lead Asterio to the place of sacrifice, but they are interrupted by the emergence of Cretan soldiers.