Tradition / Region: Roman Mythology, Italian Mythology
Alternative names: Ethiopian Bull, Ethiopian Forest Bull, Taurus Aethiopicus, Taurus Aethiopicus Sylvestris
Category: Cow
The Myth
The Forest Bull is a gigantic, tawny-colored breed of wild cattle said to live in the forests of Ethiopia. It is twice the size of an ordinary bull, with red hair, an enormous mouth that opens almost to its ears, and horns capable of turning in any direction. Once raised for combat, its horns remain fixed in that position.
According to ancient accounts, the Forest Bull is one of the fiercest and most savage animals in the world. It is a flesh-eater that hunts herds of wild animals and horses. It is also extraordinarily fast and possesses such great strength that no ordinary weapon can injure it. Spears and arrows are unable to penetrate its hide, while iron weapons are said to rebound from its body.
The Forest Bull uses its movable horns as weapons when fighting. It raises them before attacking and can face an opponent from almost any direction.
Herdsmen living in regions inhabited by the Forest Bulls devised a way to protect their livestock. They dug deep ditches in the ground and allowed the animals to fall into them. Once trapped, the furious bulls were unable to escape and eventually choked on their own rage.
The Troglodytae, a neighboring people who lived in caves, regarded the Forest Bull as the king of beasts. They considered it worthy of the title because it possessed the courage of a lion, the speed of a horse, the strength of a bull, and a hide stronger than iron.
Sources
“Forest Bull.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed August 15, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest_Bull