From: caldwell@facman.ohsu.edu (Larry Caldwell)
Subject: Re: Merlin, Mithras and Magick
Organization: Oregon Health Sciences University
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Nntp-Posting-Host: facman

kosinski@us.oracle.com (Kevin Osinski) writes:

>I recall reading in Michael (?) Rutherford's novel "Sarum" a scene in
>which the son of a Roman nobleman living in Britain takes part in a
>secret ceremony involving a bull.  He stands naked in a pit covered
>with some sort of scaffolding while assistants coax a bull to stand on
>the scaffolding.  They then fatally stab the bull, which douses the
>worshipper in the pit with blood.  This is supposedly some sort of
>rite of passage for members of the bull cult.  I wonder if this is
>related to the Mithras cult?
>
>I don't know where Rutherford got his information for this chapter.
>The book is historical fiction, and most of the general events which
>take place are largely based on historical accounts.

There is a rite like this described in Joseph Campbell's
_Occidental_Mythology_.  He also described levels of initiation, I think
6?  I don't know where Campbell got his info, but I remember thinking he
was being a little eclectic.

>I also wonder what if any connection there is between the ancient bull
>cults and the current practice of bullfighting popular in some
>Mediterranean cultures.

Quite a bit.  If you haven't read Campbell, give him a try.  

-- 
-- Larry Caldwell  caldwell@ohsu.edu  CompuServe 72210,2273
Oregon Health Sciences University.  (503) 494-2232
