The Masculinity of the Golden Calf; An Analysis Based on Archetypal Criticism

The story of the Golden calf is one of the most important stories of the Holy Quran which is also mentioned several times in the Torah.  Along with many questions about the story, what is important is the reason for choosing the calf from a variety of totemic animals. Why does Samiri choose a calf among all animals? Why is the calf represented as masculine in the Holy Quran? Basically, what is the purpose of telling the story and alluding to a male calf in the verses of the Holy Quran? By exploring the cultural beliefs of Mesopotamian and Semitic people, in the present article, first, the attempt is made to examine the features of calf in terms of its ritual and symbolic importance. Then, the semantic context of the Qur'anic verse referring to the gender of the calf is examined. The article uses archetypal criticism and Jungian ideas with an analytical and comparative approach to the Holy Quran and The Holy Scripture. Findings of the study indicate that the masculinity of the calf is a theme with a special meaning and is used as a rejection of some customs of the Age of Ignorance about the sanctity of natural objects. Since attention to gender did not play much role in the Abrahamic religions, so in later periods it was not raised.