Final answer:
The bull is strongly connected with Zeus on the island of Crete, as evidenced by various historical artifacts, such as the Herakles and the Cretan Bull metope and the story of Pasiphaë who gave birth to the Minotaur.
Step-by-step explanation:
The animal that appears to be strongly connected with Zeus on the island of Crete is the bull. This association can be seen in various artifacts and myths related to the island. One example is Herakles and the Cretan Bull, depicted on the Temple of Zeus from around 460 BCE, which celebrates one of Hercules' Twelve Labors.
Moreover, the mythology surrounding the island of Crete includes the figure of Pasiphaë, the queen of Crete, who was said to have given birth to the Minotaur, a creature that is half-man and half-bull. This myth further solidifies the connection between the bull and the divine on the island.
The significance of bulls in Crete's religious and cultural context is highlighted in various archaeological finds, such as the Snake Goddess figures and the Minoan frescoes that depict bull-leaping, indicating that the bull played a central role in Minoan religion and society.