Parts of a Bullfight

Bullfighting, as it is performed today, dates from the mid-1700s. Three bullfighters, or toreros, take on six bulls in the order of seniority. The first bullfighter is the most senior of the toreros and fights one bull. The rotation will continue until each torero has dispatched both of his bulls. The ceremony begins with a paseilla, the presentation of all the players to the crowd and officials. The corrida, or contest, itself is divided into three parts or tercios.

  1. First Tercio -- tercio de varas

    • In the first tercio, the lancing third, the torero waves a cape of vivid yellow and a pinkish-mauve colored silk at the bull to maneuver it and hold its attention. He executes a series of choreographed passes to impress the crowd, as he evaluates the fighting style of the bull. The picadors enter the ring on horseback. They each carry a lance which they use to provoke the bull. They attempt to pierce the muscle on the back of the bull's neck to straighten its charge and to cause it to lower its head. If this first blood-drawing is successful, the bull will be slightly weakened and more predictable---less dangerous for the torero to fight.

    Second Tercio---tercio de banderillas

    • In the second stage, called the tercio de banderillas, three banderilleros each try to place two banderillas in the bull's shoulders. The banderillas are iron-tipped, barbed sticks with colored paper streamers, and they infuriate and re-energize the bull who is growing tired from loss of blood and the fighting so far. Some matadors will place their own banderillas in the bull, with a flourish for the crowd.

    Third Tercio---tercio de muerte

    • The matador enters the ring alone. He is the matador now---the one who will kill the bull. He requests permission from the official box to take the bull's life, removes his hat and dedicates the kill. He taunts the bull with a small red flag called a muleta in a series of passes. This is considered a test of the matador's skill and artistry as he works the bull, showing mastery, or faena, in a crowd-pleasing dance between man and beast. The corrida ends when the matador kills the bull with a thrust of his sword between the shoulder blades and into the heart. The mortal thrust is called the estocada. If the matador has performed well, the crowd signals its pleasure and he may be awarded the bull's ears and tail.