Taurobolium
/ˌtɔːrəˈboʊliəm/noun
A ritual sacrifice of a bull, especially in the cult of Cybele in the Roman Empire.
Did you know?The taurobolium was so associated with purification and renewal that inscriptions sometimes describe the initiate as being ‘reborn’ through the bull’s blood.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ταυροβόλιον (taurobolion)
“Bull sacrifice, especially in a ritual context”
Latin
Latin
taurobolium
“A bull-sacrifice ritual”
Late Roman Empire
Latin
taurobolium
“A ceremonial sacrifice of a bull in the cult of Cybele and related mystery religions”
Middle English / Early Modern English
English
taurobolium
“A learned borrowing used in historical and antiquarian writing”
Modern English
English
taurobolium
“A ritual sacrifice of a bull”
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