The Artistic Castration Of A Bull In 'Milan' NOT Censorship -- Just Common Sense.

 

When I heard about this on the 'BBC' yesterday, they made it out like the Italians were being prudish -- covering up the rampant bull's glory.

I wanted to find out more. So, today, I went looking.

It is a famous 19th century mosaic in a shopping arcade in Milan -- i.e., the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II (named for 'Victor Emmanuel II' who was King of Italy).

Over the years a tradition had transpired mainly among tourists visiting the Galleria.

They would put an heel on the bull's privates & then grind it on the mosaic tiles in a clockwise motion. This was supposed to bring luck -- most likely fertility too.

Well, all that heel grinding had made a hole in the mosaic. It had to be fixed.

They basically decided to eliminate the TEMPTATION. No privates to grind heels into.

That makes sense. Let's face it, there was only a hole left & that doesn't make sense with a bull.

So, this had nothing to do with morality or censorship (though Italy does have an illustrious history going back centuries of trying to hide privates in statues and paintings).

I can live with this. There are not trying to ruin the art. They are trying to safeguard the precious mosaic. I am cool with that. Bravo.

😇