“[In the train of Poseidon] the winds and tempest are silent and with tranquil song proceed the Tritones who bear his armour and the rock-like Cete (Sea-Monsters) and the Tyrrhenian herds [seals], and gambol around and blow him, saluting their king.” — Statius, Achilleid 1.55
According to news reports, a 50-ton Bowhead whale was caught and killed last month; however, what makes this story so unusual is the fact that the creature has been estimated to have been between 115 to 130 years old!
It’s bad enough to have lost such a magnificent whale, but to make matters worse it seems the only thing reporters are focusing on is the fact that the whale was discovered with a fragment of a weapon in its neck — one that was manufactured circa 1890!
The 50-ton whale was captured off the Alaskan coast, had apparently been hit with a bomb lance between its neck and shoulder blade, a fragment which was lodged there for over 100 years. It had survived for over a century with the 3-1/2 inch arrow-shaped object buried under its blubber, only to succumb during a similar, final attack last month.
According to John Bockstoce, an adjunct curator at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, no other finding of such an object has ever been as precise in helping discover the actual age of such a whale. Ordinarily, the calculation of a whale’s age is difficult to gauge by studying the level of amino acids in the whale’s eye lenses. Not only that, but it is an extremely rare event to discover a whale which is more than a century old. Still, there have been incidents of capturing whales that have been near 200 years of age.
The Bowhead that was recently killed has been estimated to have been born in approximately 1877, around the time Thomas Edison was busy inventing the phonograph.
Alaska Whaling Laws: The Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission allows the harvesting of up to 255 whales by 10 Alaskan villages for the next five years, so the killing of the whale is considered legal; however, it’s important to note that the Bowhead Whale itself is considered an endangered species, and I feel should have been spared this unnecessary death.
Especially haunting to me is the fact that this whale managed to exist for all this time, no doubt being careful to avoid humans. Still, in the end this ancient creature lost its life, and takes with it a small piece of history.
As a follower of the ancient ways of Nature, I respect all creatures, and although I am a Pagan, I don’t consider myself to be a “tree-hugging hippie”. Still, in this case the age of this whale, as well as the fact that it was on the endangered species list just really saddens me — even though the killing was technically legal, and will go towards feeding the Alaskan Indians.
I suppose the only thing I can do is what I’m doing right now — bringing awareness to another facet of the story, one that is not receiving the attention I feel it deserves. All i can do now is say a blessing for a majestic being that has been sacrificed to feed the needs of Man and his unceasing appetite.
Whales and Mythology: According to ancient Greek Mythology, the Goddess Amphitrite was the ruler of the Keta (aka Cetaceans), which were considered sea monsters.
Additional Links Regarding Whales & Mythology:
Whales in Ancient Greek Mythology
About Bowhead Whales: Wikipedia, Enchanted Learning, ACSON Online
19th Century Whale Captured (News Reports): CNN, Journal Now, The Edmonton Sun.
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