1. BULLFIGHTINGS “Animals in mythology, literature and religion”
APE
Comenius – Multilateral
Volos, Greece
March 2012

2. Agenda The history of Bullfightings Bullfightings in Europe
Bullfightings in Portugal
Bulls on the street
Animal Rights
Bullfightings and Literature

3. The history of Bullfightings
Bullfighting (also known as tauromachia or tauromachy; from Greek: ταυρομαχία) is a traditional spectacle in which one or more Bulls are baited, and then slaughtered in a bullring for sport, entertainment and art.
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4. The history of Bullfightings
On the walls of Knossos in Crete reflects Bullfighting’s prevalence, since 2000 BC. The pictures display various male and female acrobats confronting a bull, grabbing its horns as it charges, and vaulting over its back.

5. The history of Bullfightings
In Greek mythology, the Minotaur was a creature with the head of a bull on the body of a man or, as described by Roman poet Ovid, "part man and part bull". The Minotaur was eventually killed by the Athenian hero Theseus.

6. The history of Bullfightings
The term Minotaur derives from the Ancient Greek Μῑνώταυρος, a compound of the name Μίνως (Minus) and the noun ταύρος "bull", translated as "(the) Bull of Minos".
In Crete, the Minotaur was known by its proper name, Asterion."Minotaur" was originally a proper noun in reference to this mythical figure.
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7. Bullfightings in Europe
The bullfightings were especially popular in ancient Rome.
The Iberian Peninsula were where these contests were completely developed.
Nuno Salvação Barreto
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8. Bullfightings in Europe
Other opinions link the beginning of Bullfighting with the religious ceremonies of the Iberian tribes living in Spain. The origins of the plaza de toros (bullring) are probably not the Roman amphitheaters but rather the Celtic-Iberian temples where those ceremonies were held.
Nowadays the bullfighting is a traditional spectacle in Portugal, Spain and France and in some other countries in Latin America: México, Colômbia, Peru, Venezuela e Guatemala

9. Bullfightings in Portugal
Ponta Delgada
Ilhas Terceira
Graciosa
S. Jorge
Lisboa 
Braga
Aveiro
Coimbra
Évora
Faro
Fátima
Porto
Guimarães
Viana do Castelo
Mainly connected with religious ceremonies

10. Bullfightings in Forte da Casa
Bulls on the street at 02:00 am, after red wine…

11. Animal Rights Anti-Bullfighting Movement of Portugal

12. Animal Rights
The hard work against bullfighting in Portugal demands an organized response from animal rights defenders, and that is why organizations should lead and promote actions against this blood spetacle, working together with other groups, and at the same time helping to provide as many resources as possible to those thousands of people who reject the tauromachy.

13. Animal Rights

14. Animal Rights Anti-Bullfighting Movement of Catalonia
The parliament of Catalonia banned bullfights in Catalonia from January 1, 2012.
With this decision, the Catalan autonomous region will be the second to approve the ban on bullfighting, after the measure had previously been prohibited in the Canaries Islands.

15. Animal Rights

16. Bullfightings and Literature
Eça de Queiroz, “Os MAIAS”, 1888
José Saramago, “Memorial do Convento”
“It’s critical to the people, because the thirst of cruelty balance between a self-faith and bullfighting”

17. Thank you…