Wild boar

Alpha boar found in a marsh

The wild boar (Sus scrofa) is a suid species and the ancestor of the domestic 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. While descendants of domesticated boars became the common pig, some of these pigs 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. During the Isu Era, a variation of boars known as iron boars roamed Svartálfaheimr. These boars often attacked and were killed by the Aesir Odin during his travels. One notable iron boar was Gullinbursti, created by the dwarves Sindri and Brokkr at the Gullinbursti Smida for Odin. At some point, Odin lost his boar, though he eventually found and reclaimed it from a jötnar. Later, during Odin's efforts to deter Sinmara's war efforts, the Isu traveled to Jöfurrsmida, where the iron boars were being produced, and freed several caged boars.

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 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 hunting bow.

During the Viking Age, the shieldmaiden Eivor Varinsdottir encountered and killed many boars throughout her travels across England, including two legendary ones, The Blood Swine and Black Stout, in Eurviscire and Connacht respectively.

Gallery

• 
  A common wild boar in 5th century Greece
• 
  The Kalydonian Boar
• 
  The Erymanthian Boar
• 
  The Blood Swine
• 
  The Black Stout

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (first appearance)
• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla
  • The Siege of Paris
  • Dawn of Ragnarök