Topic: Porphyrios the Whale. Or: That time the Eastern Roman Empire was attacked by a whale
Killer Lettuce🌹 !HonkUK.BIE started this discussion 2 years ago #108,299
So, recently, I read a work called The Secret History by Procopius, a very unique historical work by a court historian to Emperor Justinian I, who reigned from 527 to 565. And within this, he mentions one of the strangest historical events in ancient history that I have yet to come across.Basically, for around 50 years, the Eastern Roman Empire's ships had been getting attacked by a large whale. According to Procopius, Porphyrios had the Romans very scared indeed. He'd sank multiple ships, and had developed a fearsome reputation. Elsewhere, Procopius offhandedly describes a coastal area as dangerous because "the whale" might attack. Emperor Justinian made it a matter of urgency to capture this whale, but Procopies simply tells us that he was "unable by any device to accomplish his purpose". I guess they didn't have good harpoons in those days. Clearly, this whale was a major problem. Despite being one of the most advanced societies of their day, the Eastern Roman Empire couldn't really do much about this rogue whale.
Anyway, Porphyrios was eventually undone, but not by Justinian's design, but by his own hubris. Procopius describes a scene in which Porphyrios decided to chase after a group of dolphins on a calm day. He successfully ate some of them, but then, in his enthusiasm, he chased after one too close to land, and accidentally beached himself. An angry mob of Roman citizens then assembled and killed him. After this they, of course, decided to eat him. Some of them ate his meat on the spot while others opted to store his flesh for later consumption. Thus ended Porphyrios.
Killer Lettuce🌹 !HonkUK.BIE (OP) double-posted this 2 years ago, 6 minutes later[^] [v] #1,214,051
What kind of whale was Porphyrios? Historians aren't sure. He might have been an abnormally large orca, which would make sense for his location in the Greek Mediterranean. But he might have also been a sperm whale that had gotten badly out of place, which makes more sense for his size and lifespan.Procopius, in the source above, even raises the possibility that Porphyrios was a myth and the Romans had been attacked by multiple whales over a long period, as Porphyrios apparently disappeared for long periods. But personally, I like to believe that this was the work of just one angry whale.
(Edited 2 years later.)
Anonymous B joined in and replied with this 1 month ago, 2 years later, 2 years after the original post[^] [v] #1,361,209
I want to see a Wikipedia style infobox with Eastern Roman Empire on one side and "A whale" on the other as combatants 👌🏻
Killer Lettuce🌹 !HonkUK.BIE (OP) replied with this 1 month ago, 10 hours later, 2 years after the original post[^] [v] #1,361,411
I have since learned more about Romans and whales. The Romans may have had a thriving whaling industry going!
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/romans-may-have-hunted-whales-extinction-their-home-waters-180969605/
However, they would have been hunting coastal whales that were easier for them to attack, no deep sea whales like whatever Porphyrios was. So, sadly, it is not amusing in the context of this story.
@previous (B)
That would indeed be funny.
Unlike the Australians, at least the Romans won their war against an animal. Granted, it was supposedly because the animal made a mistake and basically killed himself, but still.
Gray whales are only found in the Pacific Ocean these days, and the few remaining North Atlantic right whales hang out along the coast of the U.S. But before whaling devastated their populations, both species roamed the seas more widely, and a new study suggests they were even present in the Mediterranean Sea.
[...]
According to a press release, ecologists believed that the Mediterranean was outside the historical range of gray and right whales. However, when an international team of scientists tested the DNA of bones and collagen found at five ancient fish-salting and fish-processing factories around Gibraltar, they found that both species, as well as a dolphin and elephant, were present and likely common in the region. Their findings are presented in The Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
[...]
According to a press release, ecologists believed that the Mediterranean was outside the historical range of gray and right whales. However, when an international team of scientists tested the DNA of bones and collagen found at five ancient fish-salting and fish-processing factories around Gibraltar, they found that both species, as well as a dolphin and elephant, were present and likely common in the region. Their findings are presented in The Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/romans-may-have-hunted-whales-extinction-their-home-waters-180969605/
However, they would have been hunting coastal whales that were easier for them to attack, no deep sea whales like whatever Porphyrios was. So, sadly, it is not amusing in the context of this story.
@previous (B)
That would indeed be funny.
Unlike the Australians, at least the Romans won their war against an animal. Granted, it was supposedly because the animal made a mistake and basically killed himself, but still.
(Edited 12 seconds later.)
Oatmeal Fucker !BYUc1TwJMU joined in and replied with this 1 month ago, 1 hour later, 2 years after the original post[^] [v] #1,361,433
@previous (Killer Lettuce🌹 !HonkUK.BIE)
I think it was an orca, because we see plenty of examples today of orca hunting small boats as revenge for previous mistreatment by sailors.
I think it was an orca, because we see plenty of examples today of orca hunting small boats as revenge for previous mistreatment by sailors.