Pucara Bulls: Sacred bulls of Puno

Click to read about the story of the Pucara bulls!

Pucara is a small indigenous town located in Puno. Although I was not able to go I spent my time researching more about the town and what it has to offer. Pucara is home to many archeological sites and is saturated in culture. A big part of the culture there is the Pucara bulls. These bulls are more than just beautiful pieces of artwork.

These bulls have been around since the Spaniards conquered America! These clay structures play a big part in various things such as protection of fertility, livestock, harvest, and long life. They are based on people decorating animals in many colors during festivals .

This all started from a drought. There was a very long drought in Pucara which led to the people, the animals, and the land suffering. One day a peasant decided to try to change the fate of the land. He offered the God Pacha Kamaq a black bull as a sacrifice and peace offering in order to help restore the land. The peasant led the bull to the top of a rock which the bull stuck its horns into. Water began spewing from the rock which made the people of Pucara believe that the bull is the sacred animal.

There are many different variations of the bull as well as meanings to the bulls' distinct features. The hole at the height of the sacrum represents fertilization. The handle represents the union between a man and woman in marriage. The eyes represent the alertness needed for the human being to face the world that surrounds him and the self-observation. The painted details and traces also have a meaning. The spiral shape strokes represent the spiral of life, a belief that what you give will come back to you (kukumari.com).

The bull comes in many different colors as well which each represent something;

Yellow= Energy & good luck

Green= Fertility & balance

Black/Purple=Nobility, wisdom, creativity & spirituality

The people that live in Pucara have taken the bull very seriously and you must honor and respect it. Reading about topics like these are bound to spark my curiosity because of how respected the bull is. The story behind the bull is beautiful and it teaches people a valuable lesson: honor those who save you.