Gilgamesh is depicted as a skilled hunter who can track down and slay dangerous creatures like the Bull of Heaven.
September 2024 Update
The worship of Crawling things
Apis Bull: The Apis bull was a sacred animal worshipped as an intermediary between humans and the gods.
The bull was associated with strength, fertility, and virility and was considered a manifestation of the god Ptah.
They would sacrifice bulls to Poseidon, and their rituals were conducted with great solemnity.
See Bull Atlantis connection
The Last Days of Atlantis
The Phoenician history
Astarte placed upon her own head a bull’s head as an emblem of kingship.
Bull fights - The significance of the Bull
Pleiades and Orion
The Baal Cycle
El (Ilu): The high god of the Canaanite pantheon, referred to as "the bull" and "the lord of gods." He resides on Mount Lalu, presiding over an assembly of gods.
Taurobolium: One of the more dramatic rites associated with the cult was the taurobolium, a ritual in which a bull was sacrificed, and the initiate was bathed in its blood.
The taurobolium, a ritual involving the sacrifice of a bull, was sometimes performed in connection with the temple.
This ritual, which became particularly prominent from the 2nd century AD onward, involved the sacrifice of a bull, and it had significant religious and symbolic meaning.
Sacrificial Ritual: The Taurobolium involved the sacrifice of a bull, which was considered a powerful and sacred animal.
The bull's blood was believed to have purifying and regenerative properties.
The initiate would stand or lie in the pit while the bull was slaughtered above them, allowing the blood to flow down and cover them.
This act of being drenched in the bull's blood was seen as a form of baptism, symbolizing purification and rebirth.
The blood of the bull was believed to carry vital energy and divine power, transferring these qualities to the initiate.
Atlantean Bull Rituals:
Plato describes in "Critias" that the Atlanteans performed bull sacrifices to honor Poseidon.
These rituals involved capturing bulls and mixing their blood with wine, which had significant religious and symbolic meaning.
Minoan Civilization and Bull-Leaping:
The Minoans on Crete, contemporaneous with the proposed time of Atlantis, practiced bull-leaping, a ritualistic and possibly religious ceremony involving bulls.
This practice indicates a shared cultural motif centered around bulls in the ancient Mediterranean, possibly influenced by or parallel to Atlantean traditions.
The Phoenicians and later Carthaginians, who settled in the Iberian Peninsula, had strong connections to other Mediterranean cultures and could have carried forward bull-related rituals.
These civilizations might have acted as intermediaries, transmitting bull-related traditions from the broader Mediterranean (potentially including Atlantis) to Iberia.
The Roman tradition of venationes (animal hunts) and the Taurobolium (bull sacrifice in the cult of Cybele) suggest a continuation of bull-related rituals in a different form.
Following the Roman period, the cultural practices involving bulls continued to evolve in the Iberian Peninsula.
Medieval Iberian societies held various festivals and events where bulls played a central role.
The matadors’ rituals, attire, and the structure of the bullfight echo ancient ceremonial aspects, emphasizing the cultural continuity of bull-related practices.
The connection to blood, ritualistic combat, and public spectacle in bullfighting reflects ancient traditions where bulls were central to religious and societal practices.
By considering the historical, cultural, and ritualistic evidence, we can propose a plausible connection between the bull-related practices of Atlantis and the bullfighting traditions of Southern Europe:
Atlantean Legacy: The bull sacrifices and rituals of Atlantis, as described by Plato, set a precedent for integrating bulls into religious and societal ceremonies.
The Festival of Judgement
The kings would use this bowl to draw and mix the blood of a sacrificed bull with wine.
The bull sacrifice was a critical component of the festival.
Bulls were captured using nooses and ropes to show respect for the animal and the sanctity of the act.
The blood from the bull was collected in the sacred bowl, and a portion was poured over the altar in the temple.
This passage describes the ritual oath taken by the kings of Atlantis, including the use of the sacred bowl and the bull sacrifice.
These sections provide further details on the rituals, including the capture of the bull, the mixing of its blood with wine, and the ceremonial drinking by the kings.
Why much of Ancient American history is lost
1493: Papal Bull "Inter Caetera" issued by Pope Alexander VI.
Papal Bulls and Doctrines: Documents like the Papal Bull "Inter Caetera" provided religious justification for European conquest and colonization, framing it as a divine mandate to civilize and convert indigenous peoples.
The bull
The bull has been a powerful symbol in various mythologies and religions throughout history.
In ancient Mesopotamia, the bull was revered as a symbol of power and protection.
The Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the oldest known literary works, features the Bull of Heaven sent by the goddess Ishtar to punish Gilgamesh for spurning her advances.
This myth underscores the bull's association with divine retribution and celestial power.
The Apis bull was one of the most important religious symbols in ancient Egypt.
Representing the god Ptah and later Osiris, the Apis bull was worshipped in elaborate ceremonies and considered an intermediary between humans and the gods.
The bull’s physical attributes—strength, fertility, and the power to plow fields—were linked to the life-giving qualities of the gods it represented.
Greek mythology is rich with references to bulls.
One of the most famous myths is that of the Minotaur, a creature with the body of a man and the head of a bull, who resided in the labyrinth of Crete.
Additionally, the god Zeus transformed into a bull to seduce Europa, which highlights the bull's association with divine power and sexual prowess.
In Hinduism, the bull is revered as the vehicle (vahana) of Lord Shiva, one of the principal deities.
Nandi, the sacred bull, symbolizes strength, faith, and constancy.Nandi’s presence in temples signifies protection and devotion, as he is often depicted sitting in a meditative posture, facing the main shrine, embodying unwavering loyalty.
Celtic mythology also places significant importance on the bull.
The bull’s head was used in various rituals, symbolizing abundance and the sustenance of life.
Celtic tribes would conduct bull sacrifices to ensure a bountiful harvest and to honor their gods.
Mithraism, a mystery religion practiced in the Roman Empire, featured the bull prominently in its iconography.
The central myth of Mithraism involves the god Mithras slaying a sacred bull, an act that symbolizes the triumph of good over evil and the renewal of life.
This tauroctony was a central ritual in Mithraic worship, signifying the bull’s role in cosmic regeneration and salvation.
In contemporary times, the bull continues to be a symbol of strength, resilience, and determination.
It is prominently featured in various cultures’ folklore and in economic contexts, where a "bull market" signifies a period of financial optimism and growth.
The bull’s enduring presence in cultural narratives reflects its deep-rooted significance in human history.
In cosmology, the study of the universe and its origins, the bull has also held a significant position.
Across various cultures, the bull has been associated with celestial phenomena, embodying cosmic strength, fertility, and the cyclical nature of the cosmos.
This article delves into the role of the bull in cosmological beliefs and its representation in ancient star lore and astrological traditions.
One of the most prominent representations of the bull in cosmology is the constellation Taurus.
Taurus, Latin for "bull," is depicted in the night sky with its prominent V-shaped cluster of stars, known as the Hyades, forming the bull's face.
The bright star Aldebaran represents the bull's eye, shining as one of the brightest stars in the sky.
Mesopotamian Cosmology: In ancient Mesopotamia, Taurus was associated with the Bull of Heaven, Gugalanna, featured in the Epic of Gilgamesh.
The Mesopotamians saw the bull as a divine guardian, ensuring the cosmic order and the prosperity of the earth.
Egyptian Astronomy: In ancient Egypt, the bull was linked to the god Osiris and the constellation Taurus was associated with the bull-god Apis.
The bull thus symbolized both the celestial and terrestrial life-giving forces.
The story of Zeus transforming into a bull to abduct Europa is mirrored in the stars, with the constellation representing the divine power and transformative ability of the gods.
Individuals born under this sign, known as Taureans, are believed to embody the bull’s characteristics: strength, reliability, and a connection to the earth.
This astrological symbolism reinforces the bull’s association with natural cycles and the sustenance of life.
The bull’s presence in cosmology often reflects the cyclical nature of the universe.
In various mythologies, the bull’s actions—whether plowing the fields or engaging in cosmic battles—symbolize the eternal cycles of creation, destruction, and rebirth.
The Pleiades are often associated with themes of unity and connection, resonating with the bull’s symbolism of fertility and community.
Legend of Nandi’s Birth
Nandi is depicted as a majestic white bull and serves as Shiva's mount and gatekeeper.
Women were mining
Rituals and Ceremonies: He describes rituals performed by sangomas (traditional healers), such as mating on the back of a Brahman bull to unite heaven and earth, and various other ceremonies that were part of the spiritual fabric of ancient African societies.
This is a Brahman bull.13:19On the back of this bull, rituals were performed as recently as 1941.
The cherubim on the Ark had four faces: a man (Aquarius), a bull (Taurus), a lion (Leo), and an eagle (Scorpio).
Herculus
Cretan BullHe captured the raging bull that was terrorizing Crete and brought it back to Eurystheus.
The prominence of certain animals like the ox, bull, and goat in the Bible over the cat can be attributed to several factors, including cultural, historical, and religious significance, as well as the roles these animals played in the lives of the people in the biblical regions:
Cultural Significance In the ancient Near East, including the regions mentioned in the Bible, animals like the ox, bull, and goat were of significant cultural and economic importance.
For example, bulls were often used as sacrifices in religious ceremonies, such as in the Tabernacle or Temple worship.
Animals like the ox, bull, and goat often played roles in these narratives.
For instance, the oxen were mentioned in stories of agricultural activities, while bulls and goats featured in stories of sacrifices and offerings.
RepresentationMoloch is often represented as a bull or an anthropomorphic figure with a bull's head.
The arc of the covenant
Symbolism: The cherubim on the Ark had four faces: a man (Aquarius), a bull (Taurus), a lion (Leo), and an eagle (Scorpio).
The bull’s body was then transported to the moon and purified into seeds; these seeds became what all animals would feed on and fertilized the earth’s vegetation.
The legend of the minitor says that the Atlanteans were bull worshippers, so the idea is that they adopted some of the Grecian architecture but still retained something quite different.
he is the hero, born of Uruk, the goring wild bull.
Like a wild bull he makes himself mighty, head raised (over others).
"You have indeed brought into being a mighty wild bull, head raised!
but who struts his power over the people like a wild bull."
but who struts his power over the people like a wild bull.
The Sphinx
Bull's Hooves: Symbolize earth.
Tenacity of the Bull: Represents determination and perseverance.
Angra Mainyu invaded the universe through the base of the sky, inflicting Gayomard and the bull with suffering and death.
From the bull's seed grew all beneficial plants and animals of the world and from the man's seed grew a plant whose leaves became the first human couple.
The bull’s body was then transported to the moon and purified into seeds; these seeds became what all animals would feed on and fertilized the earth’s vegetation.
"…and they produced double-winged beings…and more people with legs of goats and horns on their heads...And others, cloven hoofed—and more with horse bodies and human torsos...they have also wrought bull-headed men...and even other monsters...with manifold characters very different from each other...and many wonderful natures...whose images remain in the Temple of the Belos, one next to the other."1
Siva rides a bull - surely this means Taurus.