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Mankind owes a lot to the cow.
The first animal to be domesticated, humans began capturing the large and aggressive auroch 10,000 years ago and selectively breeding it for more docile behavior. That single act was a boon for the development and survival of the human population. Suddenly, they had a more consistent supply of meat, not having to hunt the dangerous animal, as well as fertilizer for crops and power to help plant them. Eventually, they began milking the cattle they raised, allowing them to convert inedible protein (grass) into something that can be eaten (cheese and yogurt, and then milk itself once they developed a tolerance for it).
Given how essential the cow was to sustaining human life, it is not surprising that it often appears in the mythology of ancient cultures. Across the world, early civilizations often worship a cow figure as a god or include lore that involves sacred cows. Perhaps it was the creature most revered by previous societies, driven by their dependence on cattle. To explore that, the following are examples of the reoccurring archetype of the mythological cow.
Mehet-Weret (Ancient Egypt)
In Ancient Egypt, it was believed that the world was created by the cow goddess Mehet-Weret. Portrayed as a cow with a sun disk between her horns, she gives birth to the sun each day and therefore is responsible for providing all life. She is also credited with making the Nile flood each year, which provided water and topsoil for crops. In early Egypt, cattle were considered a symbol of fertility, following after the work of Mehet-Weret.
Cattle of Helios (Ancient Greece)
Helios, the Greek god of the sun, is said to have seven herds of oxen and seven flocks of sheep, all of them particularly healthy and sharp-looking animals. In Homer’s The Odyssey, Odysseus is warned to avoid the Isle of Helios (thought to be modern-day Sicily), but lands there anyway. His crew beg to leave the ship and prepare dinner on land – and despite being told to leave all cattle alone, sacrifice some of them to the gods. Eventually, Zeus sends a lightning bolt to destroy the ship as punishment, and only Odysseus survives.
Glas Gaibhnenn (Medieval Ireland)
Glas Gaibhnenn was a prized cow that gave extremely high yields. It was watched over by a smith named Gaivnin, until it was stolen by the giant Balor. It was prophesized that Balor would be killed by his own grandson. To prevent that, he kept his daughter locked in a tower, where she couldn’t get pregnant. However, a banshee (female fairy spirit) transports Gaivnin into the tower, where he conceives a child with Balor’s daughter. Unfortunately, in all surviving texts, the fate of Glas Gaibhnenn is left uncertain.
Auðumbla (Norse mythology)
The Norsemen also believed that a cow was essential for the creation of the world. The first primordial being, Ymir, eventually became the descendant to all other living mortal beings. However, to survive, he drank the milk of Auðumbla, another primal being. Also important, as relayed in the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century, Auðumbla licked salt rocks until she unearthed Búri, the first Norse god.
Modern religions
The above examples date back thousands of years ago. However, the cow remains an important figure in major religions still practiced today. Most well-known is in Hinduism, where the cow is conferred with sacred status. Presently, it is illegal in some parts of India to slaughter cattle, and in other areas it is permitted only under certain circumstances. In addition to a belief that all living things have souls and a practice of nonviolence to all forms of life, the cow often appears in ancient Hindu texts, such as being associated with the god Krishna.
The cow also can be found in other current religions as well. Some sects of Buddhism believe that cattle are a form of reborn human beings in endless rebirth cycles and, like in Hinduism, slaughtering a cow is taboo. In Christianity, the Old Testament states that the Israelites were worshipping the image of a golden calf, while the Book of Numbers suggests sacrificing a red cow was necessary to purify someone who touched the corpse of a dead human. In Islam, the ritualistic slaughter of cattle was once an important component of the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha.
It all starts with the cow
Domesticating cattle was a revolutionary step for the human race. In addition to more control over their food source, they no longer had to remain nomadic. Once they settled, communities were able to develop, and eventually these communities began to create stories to help them understand their existence. Given how important the cow was to these early societies, it is little wonder that cattle often have a leading role in ancient mythologies, as well as continue to be included in beliefs practiced today.
