August 5th, 2010 -- by Bacchus
How To Run A Bullfight
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Shorter URL for sharing: http://www.erosblog.com/?p=5298
Shorter URL for sharing: http://www.erosblog.com/?p=5298
Is it me, or does the bull look really surprised and not too displeased by this turn of events?
This is probably a modern version of the bull jumping games practiced by the ancient Cretans, as seen in this image from Knossos.
I have no clue where that particular
picture comes from, but bull leaping is
a very old practice, like Crete, Minoan,
and few other old places. Some people
have speculated that it was carried to
Spain and devolved into bullfighting as
we know it today.
Mari is correct – I remember learning about the bull leaping thing in Ancient History at school. Also, apparently the traditional dress for women in Ancient Crete was a topless dress.
Famed palace of Knossos archaeologist, Sir Arthur Evans, gave the practice of bull leaping its own one-word term (taurokathapsia), and Wikipedia gave it its own page!
Depictions of young athletes of both sexes somersaulting over bulls were common in Crete:
http://en.wikip...aping
The Minoans, called the first advanced civilization of the European continent, were thought to have revered the bull. Crete was in such proximity to various volcanic sites, that earthquakes were a common occurrence. Historians believe that the sound of the rumbling earth was likened to the roaring or bellowing noises made by a giant bull who dwelt underground.
In fact, it’s believed that an exploding volcano on the nearby island of Thera (Santorini), caused a tsunami that devastated their shipping trade so thoroughly, that it led to their downfall.
A matriarchal society, Minoan women were depicted as tan-less ( http://upload.w...n.jpg ), whereas the men were shown with reddish tan skin. As you might notice in the “Knossos_fresco_women” photo in parenthesis above, the women apparently enjoyed baring their breasts, which can also be seen here:
http://upload.w...C.jpg
and here:
http://en.wikip...ddess
So, your original illustration is actually a fairly historically accurate depiction of Minoan life.
I believe this is from the cover of an issue
of FATE magazine from the fifties. Their covers
were frequently pretty racy for their time.