Ishtar, I found two articles on the web. The first argues that the Golden Calf worship was not Egyptian in origin. The second argues that it was, as Laurels suggested, a throwback to the worship of Hathor.

The 'punchline': they're both written by the same man: he's changed his mind. I admire him for saying so.

[hangs head]I have to confess that I haven't had the chance to read the two articles in their entirety.