Cow’s Husband, Duke, Gentleman Cow, He Thing, Surly, Steer,
Bologna… and the list goes on.
For he is a potent beast. He symbolizes the male principle in nature.
His roaring is the thunder. He is rain. He is fertility. He is ridden
by the sun and sky gods. Jupiter. Ashur. Ra. Thor. Shiva. Zeus.
In Celtic lore bull-gods implied divine power. The Druids believed
the sun was a bull and the moon was a cow. So in Hey Diddle
Diddle… when the cow jumped over the moon… perhaps they meant
the sun and she was actually goin’a courtin’.
In Egypt… the bull Apis was the avatar of Osiris as well as the
reincarnation of Ptah. In France… in the city of Toulouse… the
oldest church is dedicated to St. Taur (from the Latin Taurus).
Bull-cults were once widespread… and still survive to this day in
varied forms… the best known probably being the bull-run at
Pamplona in Spain as well as Bull Fighting. There was even a
Bull-Man–found from Sumeria to Europe–who stood guard to protect
treasure… much like the dragons of lore.
The Age of Taurus spanned 2000 years starting 4000 BC. It is the
second sign of the Zodiac and Taureans are said to be sensuous,
placid, and home-loving… unless of course they’re angered.
All of which brings us to a silver rhyton in the shape of a bull’s
head. It has horns of gold and a gold rosette on its forehead. It
was found in Grave IV of Grave Circle A at Mycenae. It is a superb
example of the goldsmith’s art in the 16th century B.C.
For those of you who are new to this thing called Tidbits…may I
direct you to my home page at www.tyler-adam.com where you will
scroll down the left side menu till you get to the area that says
Tidbits Graphics… and then click on the link that says: Bull… in
order to view a silver and gold drinking vessel in the shape of a
gentleman cow.
And there ya have it.
That’s it for this week folks.
Catch you all next week.
Benjamin Mark