The Khalkotauroi (Bronze Bulls) aka Colchis Bulls were a pair of automatons created by Hephaestus for Aeetes, King of Kolkhis (Colchis). The bronze bulls were described as having feet of bronze and bronze mouths from which they breathed out flame.
There is also a tradition that portrays Talos (typically described as a giant automaton in the form of a man) as having the form of a bull.
Both the the Khalkotauroi and Talos play roles in the myth of Jason and the Argonauts. In the 1963 Ray Harryhausen verion of Jason and the Argonauts, Talos appears, but there are no bulls. In the Jason and the Argonauts TV miniseries from 2000 only a single bull appears.
To represent the Khalkotauroi, I originally wanted to use a pair of Warhammer metal Juggernauts.
![]()
After getting one model, I felt that the Juggernaut was too big. It has a very bull-like body, but modifications need to be made to the model. The main change would be to remove the nose horn, and add some bull horns.
Later, I discovered that Wargames Foundry also produced a Bronze Bull (WG434), which seems to be based on the Menaian Bull from the miniseries.
![]()
The Foundry bull is smaller than the Juggernaut, and just the size I had in mind for a bronze bull. The only issue I have with it is that it does not have a tail (but that is easily remedied).
I was also finally able to get the Bronze Bull produced by Crocodile Games for their WarGods of Olympus Kickstarter campaign.
![]()
![]()
The Bronze Bull consists of 5 parts, and goes together fairly easily. I think the tail is actually supposed to go into the body before you glue the two halves together. I added it after gluing the body, because the tail broke off of the attachment, so the order didn't really matter.
![]()
The Crocodile bull is really nice, but it is longer and heftier than the Foundry bull, so they don't work well as a pair. I will need to buy another Foundry model if I want to make my paired set.
![]()
 |
| I think de Troy missed the part about the bulls being automatons |
There is also a tradition that portrays Talos (typically described as a giant automaton in the form of a man) as having the form of a bull.
Both the the Khalkotauroi and Talos play roles in the myth of Jason and the Argonauts. In the 1963 Ray Harryhausen verion of Jason and the Argonauts, Talos appears, but there are no bulls. In the Jason and the Argonauts TV miniseries from 2000 only a single bull appears.
 |
| CGI "Menaian" Bull |
To represent the Khalkotauroi, I originally wanted to use a pair of Warhammer metal Juggernauts.
After getting one model, I felt that the Juggernaut was too big. It has a very bull-like body, but modifications need to be made to the model. The main change would be to remove the nose horn, and add some bull horns.
Later, I discovered that Wargames Foundry also produced a Bronze Bull (WG434), which seems to be based on the Menaian Bull from the miniseries.
The Foundry bull is smaller than the Juggernaut, and just the size I had in mind for a bronze bull. The only issue I have with it is that it does not have a tail (but that is easily remedied).
I was also finally able to get the Bronze Bull produced by Crocodile Games for their WarGods of Olympus Kickstarter campaign.
The Crocodile bull is really nice, but it is longer and heftier than the Foundry bull, so they don't work well as a pair. I will need to buy another Foundry model if I want to make my paired set.
