TIDBITS 10/23/05

If any of you want Tidbits emailed directly, let me know and
I'll take care of it. Tidbits may be reprinted without charge --
with attribution. Additionally, if you know of anyone who you think
would enjoy Tidbits, please make them aware of us. URL
(http://www.tyler-adam.com). We encourage you to forward
this email to friends and colleagues.
======================================

Bull ...

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

All issues of Tidbits are copyrighted and available from our
home page. All rights reserved.