Kusarikku has origins in the dark past beyond the beginning of the Bronze Age c. 3300 BCE. A fierce creature, he's depicted as a male demon.
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He has arms, head and torso of a human and ears, horns and hindquarters of a Bull. Kusarikku can refer to an individual or group of Man Bull entities.
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Two Ugallu, lion-headed men, flank the bull men in this relief. The role of Kusarikku can be protective. Despite his demonic side he's revered as a guardian of gates. In the household a statue or image of Kusarikku protects the doorways from entry by evil forces.
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He's an entitiy associated with mountains. His symbols are a bucket and spade. In Sumerian myth, Kusarikku is one of the monsters defeated by hero warrior god Ninurta at the creation of the world. Ninurta hangs his body on the beam of his chariot.
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Kusarikka is mentioned in an incantation against the savage demon goddess Lamaštu (Lamashtu). She's a malevolent childbirth demon who tries to steal and eat infants. She also has evil eye powers. The incantation is meant to soothe a crying child.
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Besides conflict with Ninurta, Kusarikka is an enemy of Šamaš (Shamash, Sun God, God of Justice). He incites a rebellion of mountain gods, who are tired of being ruled from afar by Shamash and sometimes Inanna. It's soon quelled.
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Bull men are at home in the mountains. They're seen as protectors of flocks and herds. Depictions also show them fighting humans or gods. Characters can change. The Bull Man is initially a foe of Utu (Shamash). As time goes by Kusarikku assumes a role as divine servant to the Sun God.
According to some scholars the 'bull-man' motif originates from the wild bison native to the Mesopotamian regions, Europe and Asia. The European bison is the heaviest land animal in Europe today. Before its extinction, the wild Aurochs dominates the lands.
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The European bison is hunted almost to extinction and only gradually re-established. Bulls of any species and oxen are held in high regard in ancient Europe and Asia as symbols of wealth. They're significant sacrifices to demanding deities.
At one time it was thought the bull's sperm travels through his bones. In animal spirituality the Bull represents strength, virility and dominance. Another man/bull hybrid is the famous Minotaur of Knossos, Crete, with bull's head and man's body.
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Human headed bull protector entities are especially prominent in the use of Lamassu, the benevolent gateway guardians. Lamassu has a human head with a crown of horns, the body of a bull and the wings of an eagle.
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