bronze long-horned bull

Length: 9cm

Symbol of virility and strength. The worship of the bull was widespread in the ancient world as it symbolised power, strength and virility. It played a particularly prominent role in Cretan culture, where images of it appear on many of the frescoes and pottery. To the Egyptians, the constellation Taurus represented the renewal of life in the spring.

Zeus took a fancy to Europa, daughter of the king of Phoenicia, and changed himself into a gorgeous white bull. Europa, entranced by its beauty, climbed onto its back. The bull leapt into the sea, and carried the unsuspecting Europa all the way to Crete. Zeus made love to her, the result of which were three sons, one of whom was Minos, who became King of Crete and gave his name to the Minoan Civilisation.

Surviving Minoan frescoes depict bull-leaping rituals, and the bull is one of the most recurrent symbols in ancient Minoan art and jewellery.

The bronze pieces are cast in Greece using the traditional lost wax method. As nothing is mass-produced, there will inevitably be slight variations in texture, patina, and colour. No two pieces are ever the same. If mounted on a marble base, it will be a black or very dark grey base. There may be a variation of some millimetres in the dimensions of the base from time to time.

It's All Greek is proud to have been working with the Semitekolo family foundry since 1999. It has been a privilege to handle these gorgeous pieces and to sell them to customers all over the world.