Bullfighting is an activity rich with tradition and steeped in controversy. Unquestionably bloody and brutal, its roots lie almost certainly in religion. Ancient Minoans jumped the Bull who was likely viewed as a living embodiment of one of several Bull Gods worshipped throughout the ancient world by those cultures whose modes of subsistence exceeded Hunting and Gathering (and therefore commonly worshipped Stag-horned Gods) and had attained Horticulturalism and Pastoralism (hence the potent male Bull).
Canaanites worshipped Thor-El (Thoru-ilu in the language of Ugarit) who in time through generations of theological development and conflation evolved into Yahweh-Elohim. El alone was worshipped as the Bull. Baal (Hadad) who often assumed the form of a Bull required that deference be shown to El by referring to him (El) alone as the Bull. Dionysus is commonly depicted as a Bull God and it is likely an early form of Dionysus, whose name simply means the God of Mount Nysa, who was worshipped by the Minoans and later reviled by the Mycenaeans as the Minotaur or "Man Bull." Mithras is often shown sacrificing a great bull and his rite of baptism called the taurobolium involved the initiate standing in a pit beneath a grate upon which a bull was sacrificed the blood cascading down upon and blessing the person.
The most recognizable forms of bullfighting may be the Spanish although variations occur in Portugal and France. The less known Spanish style called Recortes does not result in the injury of the bull. The more common called corrida de toros or "race of bulls" usually results in the animals injury and death hence the controversy.
The wikipedia entry on Bullfighting lists the common characters of a corrida as "three matadores ("killers"), each fight two bulls, each of which is at least four years old and weighs 460–600 kg. Each matador has six assistants — two picadores ("lancers") mounted on horseback, three banderilleros ("flagmen") - who along with the matadors are collectively known as toreros ("bullfighters") - and a mozo de espada ("sword page"). Collectively they comprise a cuadrilla ("entourage").
The bull is the most likely loser but severe injury and death are always possible for the matadores, facts as true today as anytime in the past. The fight is a drama of life and death in miniature.
Even though the animal often dies, he is always honored. A bull who has fought a particularly good fight may be spared and retired to stud.
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