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The long-standing relationship between humans and pigs dates back thousands of years. Ancient humans tamed wild boars, selectively breeding them to make these untamed animals more suited to farming.
Since that time, pigs have impacted human history just as much as humans have shaped the lives of their porcine companions. Here are 10 instances where pigs influenced human events.
10. Pigs Uncover Healing Springs
As its name indicates, the city of Bath in England is renowned for its waters. Visitors can explore the remnants of magnificent Roman baths, where, during colder weather, mist hovers over the surface as the water rises at 46 degrees Celsius (115 °F) from a fault in the Earth.
It’s no surprise that the Romans and later generations flocked to the area. The waters were believed to have healing powers, and according to legend, it was pigs who first discovered their medicinal qualities.
Bladud, the legendary British king, was sent by his father to Athens for his studies. Everything was progressing well until the prince contracted leprosy. With the disease preventing him from ascending the throne, Bladud was left to care for pigs.
However, the pigs shared the same misfortune, catching the prince’s leprosy. The pigs accepted this calmly and wandered off to enjoy a roll in the mud, as pigs naturally do.
When the pigs returned, Bladud noticed that the mud had cured them of leprosy. He decided to try the warm mud for himself and was miraculously healed. Bath was founded on the site, or so the legend says. While many dismiss the tale as myth, pig statues are notably common in Bath.
9. St. Anthony and the Pig
St. Anthony engaged in countless battles with Satan, one of which saw Satan take the form of a monstrous pig. St. Anthony responded with nothing but kindness and forgiveness, driving Satan away, and in his place, he was left with a friendly pig. This is why pig farmers turn to St. Anthony for aid.
During the Middle Ages, the Hospital Brothers of St. Anthony were a group dedicated to caring for the poor, particularly those suffering from a condition known as St. Anthony’s Fire. To support the order’s work, pigs were often donated as a fitting offering to St. Anthony. These “Tantony pigs,” typically the smallest of the litters, were marked with bells to signify they belonged to the brothers.
These pigs were left to roam the streets on their own. The ones that managed to survive to adulthood were sold, and the proceeds went to the Hospital Brothers. In La Alberca, Spain, a pig is still set loose and fed each year by the village’s residents. This pig, known as “San Anton,” is raffled at the end of each year, with the funds raised donated to the church.
8. The Pig Toilets
Managing waste has always been a challenge for humanity. The constant threat of infection from unsanitary toilets was ever-present. Even as people became aware of the risks, finding a proper solution remained difficult. In Europe, chamber pots were often simply dumped into the streets. Meanwhile, ancient China developed a unique solution to waste management.
The pig toilet was based on the pigs' voracious appetite. Essentially, a pig toilet is a latrine positioned above a pigsty, with waste falling directly into a trough where pigs eagerly consume whatever is provided. Models of this system have been found in ancient tombs, and in Chinese, the same ideogram can represent both 'toilet' and 'pigsty.'
Though it may seem unpleasant by modern standards, this method offered a practical way to handle sewage. In some places today, pig toilets are still in use. Pigs' digestive systems help break down harmful bacteria in human waste. However, there is a risk of parasites being transmitted between humans and pigs, especially the spread of tapeworms if the pigs are later consumed.
7. Educated Pigs
Pigs are incredibly intelligent creatures with rich emotional lives. They have the ability to retain tasks they've learned and can be devoted companions. Looking into their perceptive eyes, you can almost perceive them as human. As Winston Churchill famously said, 'Dogs look up to you, cats look down on you. Give me a pig! He looks you in the eye and treats you as an equal.'
It might come as a surprise, but some individuals decided to train their pigs to demonstrate just how bright these animals truly are. Samuel Bisset was one of many who sought to make a living by showcasing 'learned pigs' trained in subjects like mathematics, literature, or history. He began with a cat opera but eventually turned his attention to pigs.
For 16 months, Bisset worked with a pig, teaching it a variety of skills, and then toured Britain with his talented student. His trained pig could 'spell names of those present with no apparent instructions, calculate sums, reveal words thought by onlookers, tell the exact time, identify the married and unmarried, kneel, and perform various other extraordinary tricks.'
After Bisset's success, the phenomenon of trained pigs gained popularity in the 19th century. Toby, the wise pig, could tell time, and a New England 'Pig of Knowledge' was even presented to President John Adams.
6. Pigs and Oral Hygiene
A toothache today means a trip to the dentist, but in earlier times, a decaying tooth could be a fatal condition. In much of the animal kingdom, creatures' lifespans are dictated by the health of their teeth. Human longevity can be partially attributed to pigs, who helped us create the first toothbrushes.
In ancient China, the earliest toothbrushes were made from bone or bamboo sticks, with bristles crafted from the coarse hairs of wild boars. These bristles were just as effective as the plastic ones in modern toothbrushes, helping to keep teeth clean. When this invention spread to the West, pig hair was found to be too abrasive for gums, so many switched to horsehair. It wasn't until the 1930s that animal hair was fully replaced by nylon.
Today, you can still find toothbrushes made with pig hair. Those seeking to reduce plastic use can purchase wooden brushes with pig bristles, which would otherwise be discarded as waste from the meat industry.
5. Pigasus Runs for President
The 1960s marked a time of massive cultural upheaval. Frustrated with the status quo, many sought political leaders who would understand their desire for a new direction. In 1968, members of the Youth International Party (Yippies) found the perfect candidate to lead them into the election. This candidate was a pig named Pigasus.
The Yippies believed that this audacious move would distinguish them from other political parties: 'They nominate a president, and he eats the people. We nominate a president, and the people eat him.'
Sadly, we will never know if Pigasus could have triumphed over Richard Nixon in the election. During the first rally, Pigasus and seven Yippies were arrested. While the seven Yippies were put on trial, the fate of Pigasus remains uncertain. Some speculate that the pig candidate may have been eaten by a police officer. However, the tradition of consuming political candidates with porcine characteristics before they reach the White House did not continue.
4. King Neptune: The $19 Million Pig
In 1942, the U.S. government was actively seeking funds to support the war effort. One popular way for citizens to contribute was by purchasing war bonds. However, one pig played a unique role in raising over $19 million to fund an entire warship.
Parker Neptune, originally known as King Neptune, was born into a litter of 12 piglets. None of his siblings achieved as much as Neptune. Initially intended to be slaughtered as part of a war bond sales event, a new plan was hatched to auction the pig off instead to raise more funds.
Still alive, Neptune was wrapped in a Navy flag, with parts of him being sold to buyers who purchased war bonds. People bought bonds to 'own' a leg, a shoulder, or even a bristle from the famous pig. None of the owners ever asked for the pig to be butchered for their purchase. King Neptune became a national sensation.
Dressed in a robe, crown, and earrings, King Neptune toured auction events, raising millions in war bonds. When adjusted for inflation, this capitalist pig helped raise over $250 million for the war effort. Upon his death in 1950, King Neptune was honored with a military burial.
3. War Pigs
In ancient warfare, elephants were one of the most formidable weapons. Their massive size and strength could break through tight military formations, making them a terrifying force. Pliny the Elder even described how elephants would crush soldiers underfoot, creating havoc in their ranks. However, he also noted an interesting fact: “The slightest sound of the grunting of the hog terrifies them.” This vulnerability was exploited in battle, as other accounts suggest.
During the siege of Megara by the Macedonian army, the defenders devised a cunning plan. They covered pigs in oil, set them on fire, and let the terrified animals loose in the enemy camp. The squealing pigs sent the Macedonian elephants into a frenzy, causing them to trample their own soldiers. Unfortunately, the fate of the pigs remains unknown.
2. Pigs On Trial
Pigs, even those raised in domesticated settings, can be incredibly dangerous. Their immense size, powerful jaws, and insatiable appetite have led to several fatal encounters with humans throughout history.
Historically, the practice of tightly wrapping children in swaddling clothes, leaving them unable to move, placed them at great risk of being attacked by pigs. In 1457, a tragedy struck in France when a pig consumed a child. The sow was subsequently put on trial, along with her piglets. Found guilty, the sow was hanged publicly, while the piglets were set free.
Animal trials were more common than one might think in medieval Europe, with criminal pigs finding themselves in court for a variety of offenses. From murdering children to eating sacred Communion wafers, some pigs met their demise at the gallows for their crimes.
1. Pig War Of 1859
Relations between the United States and Britain have often been rocky. In 1859, tensions escalated into a conflict on the San Juan Islands, located between Vancouver and Washington State. The unexpected catalyst for the dispute? A pig.
An 1846 treaty between the US and Britain was meant to resolve border issues between the US and what would become Canada. However, the agreement left the status of the San Juan Islands unclear, leading to settlements from both the British and Americans.
On June 15, 1859, a British farmer's pig wandered onto land owned by an American. After the pig devoured some of his potatoes, the American farmer shot it. The British authorities demanded the arrest of the American farmer in retaliation.
The American farmer called for military protection. In response, the US commander in Oregon dispatched 66 soldiers to the island. To counter, the British Columbia governor sent three warships, pushing the two nations to the brink of war.
When the British commander received orders to land troops and reclaim the island, he declined, stating that he would not 'involve two great nations in a war over a squabble about a pig.' The dispute was eventually settled through arbitration, and San Juan Island came under American control.
