Wild boar

Alpha boar found in a marsh

The wild boar (Sus scrofa) is a species of wild pig. Wild boars have thick fur and males have very big tusks with which they can cause major damage. The flanks of a wild boar feature a really hard bone plate which can even block a spear or arrow.

Wild boars have had populations in most of Europe, Asia and North Africa for a very long time. In Ancient Greece wild boars roamed the wilds of the main land. Kassandra would hunt these for their tusks and leather. One legendary boar was the Kalydonian Boar, a huge creature that could call in the help of other wild boars. Kassandra eventually killed it in Phokis. She did likewise with the Erymanthian Boar in Elis.

Descendants of wild boars were domesticated, whilst descendants of those became feral again in certain regions.

Gallery

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  A common wild boar in 5th century Greece
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  The Kalydonian Boar
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  The Erymanthian Boar
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  A 5th century BCE relief depicting Herakles, the Erymanthian Boar and Eurystheus