You’re sneaking through the Castel Sant’Angelo, trying not to get mauled by a guard dog or spotted by a fascist patrol, and you stumble into a room with a fireplace. Standard video game stuff, right? But then you see them: two weird paintings of bulls. This is the Indiana Jones the Bulls of Blood mystery, and honestly, if you aren't paying attention to the notes scattered around the room, it's easy to walk right past one of the coolest early-game secrets in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.
The thing about this game—and this puzzle specifically—is that it doesn't hold your hand like a modern waypoint-chaser. It wants you to be Indy. It wants you to actually look at the environment. If you’ve been scratching your head at those bovine portraits, don’t feel bad. Most people do.
Where to find the Bulls of Blood Mystery
You’ll hit this while exploring the interior of the Castel Sant’Angelo, right before you officially breach the Vatican City. It’s tucked away in the northeast corner of the map, near the Angel Courtyard.
Look for a room with a sleeping guard in a chair. Pro tip: knock him out first. Nobody likes a witness when they’re messing with the decor. On the desk nearby, you’ll find a couple of key items: a hand-drawn map and a card with two red bulls on it. These aren't just collectibles for your journal; they are the literal blueprint for what happens next.
The map shows the room you’re standing in, which is a bit of a meta-joke from the devs at MachineGames. It’s like the game is saying, "The answer is right here, pal."
Solving the Indiana Jones the Bulls of Blood Puzzle
Okay, so you’ve got the notes. Now look at the wall next to the fireplace. You’ll see two paintings. At first glance, they just look like some Renaissance-era cattle art. But if you walk up to them, you’ll get an interaction prompt.
Here is the "aha!" moment:
- Interact with the left painting. Rotate it.
- Interact with the right painting. Rotate it.
- The Goal: You need the two dark-colored (or red, depending on your screen settings) bulls to be on top, facing each other.
Think of it like they’re about to lock horns. Once you line them up perfectly, the section of the wall between the paintings—which, let's be honest, looked a little "door-shaped" to begin with—will slide open.
Inside, you’ll find a hidden chamber. It’s not just for show; there is a Renaissance letter from Cesare Borgia himself, where he’s gabbing about invading Camerino and hiring some guy named Leonardo da Vinci. It’s a nice bit of historical flavor that makes the world feel lived-in. Plus, you get 100 Adventure Points for your trouble.
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Why this mystery matters for your playthrough
Aside from the lore and the points, solving the Indiana Jones the Bulls of Blood mystery actually gives you a tactical advantage. If you follow the path up the stairs inside the secret room and pull the lever, you open a shortcut.
This is huge because it lets you bypass a large chunk of the guarded area. You can skip having to hunt down the Captain’s Key, which usually involves a lot more sneaking and a much higher chance of getting shot. It’s a classic Indy move—work smarter, not harder, and find the passage the bad guys don't know about.
Common mistakes and bugs
I’ve seen a few people on Reddit complaining that their map marker for this quest is bugged. Sometimes, if you leave the area and come back later, the map might point you toward the "Excavation Site" instead of the Castle.
If that happens to you, ignore the marker. Just head back to the Castel Sant’Angelo and find that room with the fireplace. The puzzle should still be interactive.
Also, keep an eye out for the "Red Bulls Card." It's the most important clue because it shows the exact orientation the paintings need to be in. If you’re just spinning them randomly, you might get lucky, but the card makes it a five-second job.
What to do next
Once you’ve cleared the Bulls of Blood, don't just run off. There is a chest at the top of the stairs near the lever. Open it. You’ll get some cold, hard cash and some extra ammo. In the early game, that extra money is vital for unlocking better skills in your journal.
Your checklist for Castel Sant'Angelo:
- Grab the Russo's Note from the southern central room desk.
- Pick up the Angel Courtyard Map in the room with the fireplace.
- Grab the Red Bulls Card right next to it.
- Rotate the paintings so the dark bulls face each other.
- Read the Cesare Borgia Letter inside the secret room for the completion.
- Loot the chest near the exit lever for extra currency.
Doing all of this early ensures you have the Adventure Points needed to beef up Indy’s stealth or combat stats before the difficulty spikes once you get deeper into the Vatican. It’s one of those small, satisfying wins that makes the game feel like a true adventure.