Bulls

Here's an excerpt from Chapter 43: Dionysus of The Golden Bough:

A feature in the mythical character of Dionysus, which at first sight appears inconsistent with his nature as a deity of vegetation, is that he was often conceived and represented in animal shape, especially in the form, or at least with the horns, of a bull. Thus he is spoken of as “cow-born,” “bull,” “bull-shaped,” “bull-faced,” “bull-browed,” “bull-horned,” “horn-bearing,” “two-horned,” “horned.” He was believed to appear, at least occasionally, as a bull. His images were often, as at Cyzicus, made in bull shape, or with bull horns; and he was painted with horns. Types of the horned Dionysus are found amongst the surviving monuments of antiquity. On one statuette he appears clad in a bull’s hide, the head, horns, and hoofs hanging down behind. Again, he is represented as a child with clusters of grapes round his brow, and a calf’s head, with sprouting horns, attached to the back of his head. On a red-figured vase the god is portrayed as a calf-headed child seated on a woman’s lap. The people of Cynaetha held a festival of Dionysus in winter, when men, who had greased their bodies with oil for the occasion, used to pick out a bull from the herd and carry it to the sanctuary of the god. Dionysus was supposed to inspire their choice of the particular bull, which probably represented the deity himself; for at his festivals he was believed to appear in bull form. The women of Elis hailed him as a bull, and prayed him to come with his bull’s foot. They sang, “Come hither, Dionysus, to thy holy temple by the sea; come with the Graces to thy temple, rushing with thy bull’s foot, O goodly bull, O goodly bull!” The Bacchanals of Thrace wore horns in imitation of their god. According to the myth, it was in the shape of a bull that he was torn to pieces by the Titans; and the Cretans, when they acted the sufferings and death of Dionysus, tore a live bull to pieces with their teeth. Indeed, the rending and devouring of live bulls and calves appear to have been a regular feature of the Dionysiac rites. When we consider the practice of portraying the god as a bull or with some of the features of the animal, the belief that he appeared in bull form to his worshippers at the sacred rites, and the legend that in bull form he had been torn in pieces, we cannot doubt that in rending and devouring a live bull at his festival the worshippers of Dionysus believed themselves to be killing the god, eating his flesh, and drinking his blood.

Its easy for one someone to say that we have moved past eating bulls in such savage ways, but one must look closer at how and the way we eat. Don't many football players, construction workers, or military personnel demand a big, juicy steak before preparing for their feats of strength? Aren't men embodying the strengths of bulls when they challenge them to races at Pamplona or devour their muscle on a daily basis?American's worship the bull in every aspect of life. The hamburger is arguably America's most popular meal choice. Between the overwhelming presence of McDonald's and countless other fast food chains beef is a dominant food staple. On the nation's birthday, The Fourth of July, families across the country are urged to eat beef. When body builder's try to put on muscle, it is known as "beefing up". When someone is picking a fight with a foe, they "have beef" with that person. "Bullying" is a rite of passage for males; from using tiny fists in playground fights to using deadly weapons in international wars. The financial lifeblood of the United States lies within the stock market. It's symbol is a bull. The energy drink of choice for the nation's youth is Red Bull with the slogan: "It gives you wings." A company's intent becomes very clear when it states that their product gives God like powers to both bulls and people.

Not only is eating a bull a sign of money and power, but also wearing and covering objects with its smooth skin is something we do every day. We wear leather to make our feet strong and we wear leather jackets to become more bullheaded. All fabrics pale in comparison to leather couches and leather upholstery. When you buy a luxury car, you buy one that's fully loaded with a leather interior.

Ultimately, that is what we are searching for when we subconsciously devour every part of the bull; we want to be fully loaded. The God like qualities of a bull are intimidating, like a loaded gun with a bullet in the chamber. Once we become the bull, our shoulders have broadened and we are able to run over anything in our path with the weight of a ton of bricks.

Now we understand why Pasiphae was so eager to don a cow suit and court the white bull. It had qualities that didn't even come close to any puny man! Hmmm, two scrawny legs or four beefy ones? Thin porous skin or a tough leathery hide? Nimble fingers or powerful hooves? Yeah, I'm pretty sure I would want my kid to have horns too. No one would bully him, that's for sure.