Wild boar

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

History

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 freely, and they were considered predators like wolves and bears. The tusks of the boars were valued at 45 drachmae, and their hoofs at 4 drachmae.

A 5th century BCE metope depicting Herakles, the Erymanthian Boar and Eurystheas

In the Greek mythology, two boars were of special note: there was the Kalydonian Boar which was said to have been sent to ravage the lands by the goddess Artemis as punishment, and the Erymanthian Boar which the legendary hero Herakles was tasked to capture.

During the Peloponnesian War, Daphnae, the acting leader of the Daughters of Artemis, tasked the Spartan misthios Kassandra to hunt down the incarnations of various legendary beasts, including the Kalydonian and Erymanthian boars. Kassandra did as asked, finding the former within the Sacred Lands of Apollo in Phokis, and the latter terrorizing the Erymanthos Foothills in Elis.

Around the time of said conflict, the Persian Natakas came to Greece, as did his taste for boar meat, which he memorised by carving a rough likeness of the animal on his Natakas' Hunting Bow.

Gallery

• 
  A common wild boar in 5th century Greece
• 
  The Kalydonian Boar
• 
  The Erymanthian Boar

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (first appearance)
• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla