Minoan Palace Fresco, Bull Jumping
Ancient Greek Mythology, Religion, Art
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The Minoan religion of ancient Crete remains something of a mystery. Many of the objects uncovered in archaeological excavations are said to have had religious functions, but what exactly the Creteans believed, what they worshipped, and how they worshipped is unclear. We can say that the bull played a prominent role in Cretan culture because bull images appear constantly on frescoes and pottery.
One of the most interesting frescoes in Crete depicts three young men involved in an athletic competition around a bull. Usually referred to as "bull jumping," the event appears to have involved grasping the bull by the horns and then flipping backwards over the animal, landing behind it. This would have been a very dangerous undertaking and, if the full were indeed a sacred animal in Crete, would have had religious significance.
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