Holy cows, global and local

Going by the violence that has erupted over the cow, it would seem as if we are the only people who consider her sacred. Far from it; cows have sat on a holy pedestal across ancient civilisations. Be it the Greek, Nordic or Egyptian, the cow has been goddess, protector, mother and sacred to her people. 

In Norse mythology, the cow is the creator of the universe. In the beginning there was Nifleheim, the world of mist with 11 poisonous rivers and a roaring maelstrom, and Muspell, the fire world where everything glowed and burned. Between the two was a void