Chicken

A chicken (Gallus gallus) is a type of domesticated bird which is often raised as a type of poultry. It is believed to be descended from the wild Asian Red Junglefowl.

Cockfighting

Male chickens are known as cocks (in most countries), cockerels (if younger than one year) or roosters (primarily in the US and Canada). Their natural inclination to fight has been exploited in staged fights, sometimes with a metal spike added to or replacing the natural spurs. Most countries have banned cockfighting, but it is still legal in two U.S. states, New Mexico and Louisiana, and is common in Southeast Asia.

Related Topics:
Rooster - U.S. - New Mexico - Louisiana - Southeast Asia

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Cockfighting was popular in ancient Greece. According to tradition, it was introduced in Athens by Themistokles as a public spectacle. Fighting roosters were fed garlic and onions to increase their aggression. In ancient Greece, the gift of a fighting rooster among men is said to have been a common way to initiate a homosexual relationship. Gems often show a rooster combined with Eros, the god of love.

Related Topics:
Themistokles - Eros

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Sometimes it has a religious significance, as in Bali, where the shed blood is seen as cleansing.

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