Tradition: Mesopotamian mythology, Iraqi Mythology
Alternative names: Bull-Man, Gud-alim
Category: Cow
The Myth
Kusarikku, meaning “Bull-Man,” was a powerful Mesopotamian supernatural being depicted with the head, torso, and arms of a human but the horns, ears, and hindquarters of a bull. He walked upright and was associated with mountains.
Kusarikku served as a guardian and gatekeeper, protecting people and sacred spaces from malevolent beings and unwanted intruders. In later Mesopotamian art, he could be shown carrying a bucket or a spade.
He also appears in several myths as a formidable supernatural being. In the Anzû myth, Ninurta defeats a Kusarikku in the midst of the sea, while other traditions associate the creature with the defeated forces of primordial chaos. Kusarikku was also among the protective supernatural figures placed around buildings and palaces to ward off evil spirits.
The Bull-Man was associated with Šamaš, the god of justice, alongside other hybrid guardians such as the Scorpion-Man and the Bison-Man. His celestial counterpart, gud-alim, was associated with part of the constellation Centaurus.
Sources
“Kusarikku.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed August 21, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kusarikku