You're sneaking through the Castel Sant'Angelo, trying to look like a dignified archeologist, and then you hit it. A literal wall. Or rather, a pair of paintings that just don't look right. The Bulls of Blood Indiana Jones mystery is one of those early-game hurdles in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle that feels like it should be simpler than it is. Honestly, if you've spent ten minutes spinning canvases and wondering if you've missed a lever somewhere, you aren't alone.
It’s a classic Indy moment. You've got the atmosphere, the tension of guards nearby, and a riddle involving Renaissance-era art. But the game doesn't exactly hold your hand here.
Most people stumble upon this while navigating the "Stolen Cat Mummy" chapter. It’s tucked away in the northeast corner of the Castel Sant'Angelo, right before you officially cross into the Vatican. It’s a side mystery, sure, but the Adventure Points you get are basically mandatory if you want to unlock the better combat skills early on.
Finding the Bulls of Blood
First off, you have to actually trigger the quest. You can't just walk up to the paintings and hope for the best if you haven't grabbed the right scraps of paper. Look for the Angel Courtyard Map and a specific card called the Red Bulls Card.
They're usually sitting on a desk in a room with a fireplace. There is a guard in there. Knock him out. Drag him to a dark corner so his buddies don't start a manhunt. Once the room is quiet, grab the notes.
The paintings themselves are hard to miss once you’re looking. Two identical depictions of bulls, separated by a section of wall that looks suspiciously like a door. Because it is.
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The Bulls of Blood Indiana Jones Puzzle Solution
Okay, here is the "secret" that isn't really a secret once you look at the Red Bulls Card. The paintings are interactive. You can grab the edges and rotate them.
The goal? You need to make the two black bulls face each other at the top of the frames.
Initially, they’re all mismatched. You’ll see a brown bull and a black bull on each canvas. Rotate the left painting until the black bull is upright and facing right. Then, grab the right painting and spin it until its black bull is upright and facing left.
Basically, they need to be staring each other down.
When you get it right, the wall segment slides open. It’s satisfying. You get that classic "secret door" sound effect that makes you feel like a real tomb raider. Inside, there's a box containing Cesare Borgia’s Letter. Picking that up is what officially "solves" the mystery in your logbook.
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Why does this mystery matter?
You might think, "It’s just a letter, who cares?"
In The Great Circle, your progression is tied to Discovery and Mystery points. Completing the Bulls of Blood Indiana Jones puzzle nets you a clean 100 Adventure Points. That is enough to buy some serious upgrades, like the "Punch Out" ability or better stamina recovery.
If you're playing on a higher difficulty, you need these points. The combat in this game can get surprisingly brutal if you're just relying on Indy's base stats.
Common Glitches and Frustrations
I’ve seen a lot of chatter on Reddit and forums about a "bugged" map marker for this quest.
Sometimes, even after you solve the painting puzzle and get the letter, a marker stays stuck on the "Excavation Site." It’s annoying. It makes you feel like you missed a second part of the quest.
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Usually, this is just a UI bug. If you have Cesare’s letter and the 100 points popped up, you're good. You don't need to keep wandering around the dig site looking for a hidden cow statue. If the door won't open at all, try reloading your last checkpoint. The physics on the painting rotation can occasionally "stick" if you interact with them while a guard is entering the "alert" state nearby.
The Lore Behind the Blood
MachineGames didn't just pull the "Bulls of Blood" out of a hat. The Castel Sant'Angelo was originally the Mausoleum of Hadrian, but it later became a papal fortress. The Borgia family—specifically Cesare and Pope Alexander VI—are legendary for their "red" reputation.
The "Blood" in the title likely refers to the violent history of the Borgias in Rome. The letter you find inside provides a bit of flavor text about the family's secret passages. It’s a nice touch for history nerds. It grounds the supernatural elements of the "Great Circle" in some actual (albeit dramatized) Italian history.
Quick Checklist for Completion
- Location: Castel Sant'Angelo (Ground floor, NE corner).
- Triggers: Pick up "Russo's Note" and the "Red Bulls Card."
- Action: Rotate both paintings 180 degrees.
- Alignment: Black bulls facing each other at the top.
- Reward: Cesare Borgia’s Letter and 100 Adventure Points.
Moving Past the Castel
Once you've cleared the Bulls of Blood Indiana Jones puzzle, don't forget to look up. There is a lever in the secret room that opens another door leading to a balcony. This lets you bypass a heavily guarded gate.
It’s a much stealthier way to reach the Vatican than trying to punch your way through the front door. Indy is a professor, after all. Use your head, solve the art puzzles, and keep your hat on.
If you're looking for the next big score, keep an eye out for the "Secret of Secrets" mystery once you get inside the Vatican library. It uses a similar logic of observing the environment for subtle clues left in old documents.
Next Steps for Your Playthrough:
Check your Journal under the "Mysteries" tab to ensure the checkmark appeared for the Bulls. If you have the 100 Adventure Points, immediately head to the "Adventure Books" menu and spend them on the Punch Out I skill. This will make the upcoming encounters in the Vatican Gardens significantly easier to manage when you inevitably get spotted by a patrol dog.