主办单位:成都体育学院
ISSN 1001-9154 CN 51-1097/G8

Journal of Chengdu Sport University ›› 2024, Vol. 50 ›› Issue (5): 153-161.doi: 10.15942/j.jcsu.2024.05.017

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Historical Origin and Cultural Interpretation of Bull Game in Ancient Greece

WANG Haiyan, WANG Runbin   

  1. School of P. E. and Sport Science, Fujian Normal Univ., Fuzhou Fujian 350117
  • Received:2023-05-05 Revised:2024-07-05 Online:2024-09-15 Published:2024-10-11

Abstract: From the bull-leaping in Crete, through the bull fighting in Mycenae, to the bull racing in Thessaly, the style and connotation of bull games in ancient Greece have evolved continuously, and have become an important part of ancient Greek society and culture. This paper analyzes the historical origin and cultural connotation of bull games in ancient Greece by means of literature and logical analysis. The findings indicate that bull games play an important role in the social life and mythology of ancient Greece, and bull games in ancient Greece present different patterns and action diagrams in Crete, Mycenae and Thessaly. At the same time, bull games in ancient Greece contain rich cultural connotations: from primitive hunting to bull-leaping, cultural rituals began to emerge; from bull-leaping to competition, the faith towards god was exhibited; from bull-leaping to bull racing, entertainment shows began to appear; from the monopoly of the nobility to the competition of the whole people, there was a change in the level of participation; from different species to different customs, the cultural field gradually formed.

Key words: ancient Greece, bull game, bull-leaping, culture, animal

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