Bullock, Rochester Bestiary, c.1230

The noble bullock is a creature of both practical utility and profound spiritual significance. Known as iŭvencus, this beast earned its title by helping mankind with tilling the land, serving as a loyal companion in agricultural endeavours. Additionally, the bullock held a sacred role in pagan rituals, often offered as a sacrifice to Jupiter, reflecting its esteemed status in ancient cultures.

Delving into etymology, we uncover the origins of the words for bull and ox, shedding light on linguistic connections that span civilizations. From the Greek ταῦρος/tavros comes the Latin taūrūs for bull and bōs for ox, illustrating the interplay between language and cultural exchange.

Venturing into the exotic realms of India, we encounter bulls of remarkable stature and strength. These tawny-hued creatures possess a swiftness that borders on the miraculous, their very movements seeming to defy gravity. With a mane adorning their nape and a mouth capable of engulfing their entire head, these bulls command a formidable presence. Their flexible and manipulable horns add to their aura of power and dominance, whereas their impenetrable hide renders them impervious to weaponry.

Yet, beneath their formidable exterior lies a fierce spirit, one that refuses to yield even in the face of capture. In a final act of defiance, these indomitable creatures meet their demise with a madness born of their untamed nature.

Through the lens of ancient lore and natural wonder, the bullock emerges as symbolic of strength, resilience, and sacrificial nobility. Its legacy, woven into the fabric of human history, serves as a testament to the enduring bond between men and the animal kingdom.

Iuvencus dicitur eoquod iuvare incipiat hominum
usus in terra colenda. vel quia apud gentiles
iovi semper ubique iuvencus immolabatur. et numquam
taurus. Nam in victimis etiam etas consideratur.
Taurus grecum nomen est sicut et bos. Indicis tauris;
color fulvus est. volucris; pernicitas. pilus; in contra-
rium; versus. hvaiatus omne quod capcitut. Hii quoque
circumferunt cornua flexibilitate qua volunt. Tergi
duricia(corrected from duricie); omne telum respuunt. tam inmiti ferita-
te; ut capti animas furore proiciant

The bullock is called iŭvencus¹, for it helps man to till the land, or for it was this beast that was always sacrificed to Jupiter everywhere among the pagans but never a bull. Age was always taken into consideration with regard to sacrificial victims. The word for bull, taūrūs, comes from the Greek ταῦρος/tavros, so does the word for ox, bōs, βοῦς/voús. The bulls of India are tawny in colour and are so swift-footed that they seem to fly. Hair grows on the nape and their mouth opens to the size of their head. Their horns are flexible and they move them as they wish. Its back and hide are so hard that they repel any weapon. They are so fierce that when they are captured, they give up the ghost in madness.

Further Reading

Josh Goldenberg (BA 2012) and Matt Shanahan (BA 2014), Logeion, November 2022, https://logeion.uchicago.edu/

Castiglioni, L. and Mariotti, S. (1996). Vocabolario della Lingua Latina: Latino-Italiano Italiano-Latino. Terza Edizione. Loescher Torino

Matthews, J. and Matthews C., (2010), The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures, HarperCollins UK, London

Curley, M. J., Physiologus: A Medieval Book of Nature Lore (University of Chicago edition 2009)

Rackham, H., M.A., Pliny Natural History Volume III, Libri VIII-XI (London: William Heinemann Ltd, 1949)

Collins, A. H., M.A., Symbolism of Animals and Birds (New York: McBride, Nast & Company, 1913)

Henderson, C., The Book of Barely Imagined Beings (London: University of Chicago Press, 2013)

White, T. H., The Bestiary: A Book of Beasts (New York: G.P Putnam’s Sons, 1960)

Barney, S. A., Lewis, W. J., Beach A., Berghof O., The Etymologies of Isidore of Seville (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2006)

Endnotes

1 In Latin, the verb iŭvāre means to help.