The Bull is a symbol of power, strength, resurrection, masculinity, fertility, impulsiveness, fathers, kingship, and the Zodiac sign and constellation Taurus. The widespread presence of the Bull in many different and widespread cultural mythologies and early religions can be explained by the fact that cattle were among the first animals domesticated by man, in fact probably not longer after the Asian wolf became the household dog. Cattle were the first wealth in a shift from a hunter-gather society to an agrarian culture. This was a profound change in the organization of human social and political units and domesticated Cattle were a crucial source of reliable and dependable supplies of meat, milk, blood and all else that the carcass could provide.
The Bull straddles two opposites in the world of mythology and symbolism, in that it is both a solar and a lunar creature. The Bull's male fertility, fiery temperament, and role as father of the herd make him the masculine sun-god in many cults. Just as the lion is the king and terror of the beasts of the forest, the bull is the king of the farm and the personification of brute strength and power. The lion, the bull, and the sun are popular symbols of life and resurrection. The bull's crescent shaped horns link him to moon worship and symbolism although in some areas the sun is a bull while the moon is a cow.
See also: Animal Tattoos Index, Nandi Tattoo Design.
