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Minoan bull leaper

-1600/-1450

British Museum

British Museum
London, United Kingdom

A difficult and dangerous activity, bull-leaping is frequently shown in the art of Bronze Age Crete (also known as Minoan Crete). This bronze group of a bull and leaper is the only one of its kind and shows the human figure in the middle of the leap. The bull has his legs stretched out in a pose known as the ‘flying gallop’ indicating movement. The sculptor has cleverly supported the leaper by allowing his long hair to trail onto the bull's forehead. The legs and arms of the leaper are missing which could be a result of problems with the bronze casting. The low percentage of tin in this bronze (a mixture of copper and tin) meant that it would not have flowed very well into the mould.

The most famous images of bull-leaping come from the so-called ‘palace’ at Knossos. This was clearly a very important site in Bronze Age Crete, a complex building (probably the mythical ‘labyrinth’) where large numbers of people could gather. It is likely that bull-leaping took place in the area of Knossos, perhaps seasonally. There is later evidence that the palace owned cattle and it is likely that it also controlled domestic animals in the period this bronze figure was made. Bull-leaping was a way of showing that these cattle belonged to Knossos, as well as providing a test of the human participants involved.

There has been much debate about whether bull-leaping took place in the way that it is shown in art. It seems unlikely that a person could grasp a charging bull's horns and flip over onto the bull’s back, as shown here, because of the unpredictability of the bull's movements. Perhaps in reality the bulls were restrained or even tamed. This skilfully crafted object does not necessarily show what happened, but rather bull-leaping as it was meant to be seen. In a time before photography such objects would have been an important way to capture the moment of the leap.

Details

  • Title: Minoan bull leaper
  • Date Created: -1600/-1450
  • Physical Dimensions: Length: 15.50cm; Height: 11.40cm; Width: 4.70cm
  • External Link: British Museum collection online
  • Subject: acrobat/street-performer; mammal
  • Registration number: 1966,0328.1
  • Place: Found/Acquired Rethymnon
  • Period/culture: Late Minoan I
  • Material: bronze
  • Copyright: Photo: © Trustees of the British Museum
  • Acquisition: Purchased from Spencer-Churchill, Edward George. Funded by Shaw Fund. Purchased through Spink & Son Ltd

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