Sacred bull, holy cow : a cultural study of civilization's most important animal

Across the world cattle remain absolutely essential to civilization's survival as a source of food, clothing, and labor. Human beings eat beef and ice cream, drink milk, wear leather, and love hamburgers and hot dogs. This book describes the history of the domestication and deification of the cow and bull and their intimate relation to humans. Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) scares reveal its continued importance in daily life. This Book Describes The History Of The Domestication And Deification Of The Cow And Bull And Their Intimate Relation To Humans. Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (bse) Scares Reveal Its Continued Importance In Daily Life.--book Jacket. 1. Taming And Domestication -- 2. The Cow And Bull In Scripture -- 3. Egypt And The Cult Of The Cow -- 4. Greek Bull Myths -- 5. Roman And Medieval Bull Cults -- 6. American Bison -- 7. Cattle Drives And Great Plains Grasses -- 8. Colonizers And Cattle -- 9. Meat And Milk -- 10. Cattle And Unwanted Organisms -- 11. African Cattle: Wealth And Insurance -- 12. India, Land Of The Sacred Bull And Cow -- 13. Latin American Beef-eating Culture -- 14. The Asian Cow: Water Buffalo And Yak -- Epilogue -- Notes -- References -- Index. Donald K. Sharpes. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [283]-295) And Index.