Bullfighting

Bullfighting

The origins of bullfighting can be traced back to prehistoric times. The Greeks sacrificed bulls for religious reasons, but in its earliest forms, bullfighting did not even involve humans. The bull was often put into a small enclosure with another predatory animal, such as a tiger or lion, and the beasts fought to the death. The spectacle eventually evolved into a struggle between man and bull gaining similarities with what we know today as bullfighting. Along with these changes came the spectacle and formalities that are now an integral part of the corrida de toros. Arguably, the first of the modern bullfight took place in Vera, Logroño, Spain in 1133. The modern bullfight evolved from rejoneo, which is bullfighting on horseback. The lower classes, which could not afford horses like the aristocracy could, invented the bullfighting on foot that became largely popularized in Spanish culture.

The bullfight consists of three stage called tercios. Each stage is fundamentally different and symbolizes a different chapter in the bull’s life, for the bull is the most important part of the fight. The bulls used in Spain are bred from an ancient race of bulls referred to as bravo toro. However, in modern times, the blood is not pure and the race is disappearing due to cross breeding. The bulls are no more than four years old and have never encountered a man on foot before the fight. In fact, during the bull’s life, human contact is minimized as much as possible.

The corrida de toros actually consists of six “bullfights”. Three matadors participate in the corrida with their personal “teams” accompanying them. The star matador is referred to as the Torero. The matad...

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... cape for the small, red muleta and draws his sword. The matador guides the bull’s head down towards the muleta and plunges the sword into the bull’s weakened neck muscle. If the picadores and banderilleros have done their job correctly, the sword will slide between the bull’s vertebrae and puncture its heart, killing it instantly. If the crowd approves of the job the matador has done, it will shower him with flowers and hats. Also, the matador will receive a prize, such as the ears or tail of the bull, for a good fight.

Works Cited:

http://webpages.csus.edu/~sac75759/ A good site for information on the specific stages of the bullfight.

http://www.andalucia.com/bullfight/guide.htm Has good information on all aspects of the bullfight---good links too

http://www.bullfights.org/ A current site about bullfighting in Mexico. You can even order tickets.