Minoan Bull Leaper Fresco

The Minoan Bull Leaper Fresco depicts a rather unusual event, but one that formed a major part of Minoan Cretan culture during the Bronze Age. During religious ceremonies, leapers would use the bull and its momentum to help them perform somersaults as they flew through the air, while also delighting the crowd gathered with the daring and excitement of just approaching and surviving contact with the bull.

This fresco is just one example of the Minoan depiction of this sport. Other examples of this same event can be found on vases, sealstones, and various other frescos.