The symbol of Bull - PreGomesh
Oct 05, 2016
The Bull, Taurus in Latin, as a sacred symbol and mythical hero is presented in almost all beliefs of ancient civilizations: the Heavenly bull of Sumerian myth Gilgamesh, Crete’s Minotaur, the two bulls of thunder god with hurrys, Shiva saddled on the bull, bull as embodiment of Egyptian Osiris, Greek’ Hera having "the bull's eyes", Romans’ bull sacrificed to Jupiter ...
Thus it is no coincidence that the bull, same ox, was one of the oldest astrological zodiac signs, the second of the 12 current known signs. Today, from architecture to fashion, from west to east bull image is still used as a symbol of the mysterious force. And despite the prevalence in different cultures, the bull had a very special meaning and symbolism especially for us, Armenians. Urartian war god, Teisheba, often is depicted standing on the bull.
In Armenian ancient cosmological legends "Earth rests on the horns of an ox. When he would shake his head an earthquake occurred”. Ox in pre-Christian Armenia’s pagan pantheon was considered as a sacred mammal, it even was associated with Astghik /Anahit deity. "Vishapakar” called monuments depict a bull, heifer, with water waves effused from the mouth.
The Bull sacrifice for Armenians is linked to the wedding ceremony. Ox or bull, as a bride-Moon embodiment was carried from the King’s / groom / home to brides home and slaughtered there, with the groom putting his right foot on the ox, as was depicted on Urartian frescoes.
