30 September 2008

ABC Wednesday - K

K is for King Bladud's Pigs


King Bladud’s Pigs in Bath is a public art event to celebrate Bath, its origins and its artists - and provide residents and visitors with artistic enjoyment. Over one hundred decorated pig sculptures were on display throughout the summer all around Bath and beyond. I had a wonderful time exploring Bath and finding these pigs.




The Legend

The year is 863BC. Bladud, King of the Britons and father of the unfortunate King Lear who was immortalised by Shakespeare, had spent much of his youth studying in Athens where he contracted leprosy.

Returning home and realising that an imperfect prince could not inherit the throne, he left the royal palace in disguise to take a job as a swineherd in an "untravell'd part of the country".

As Bladud drove his pigs in search of acorns he crossed the River Avon at shallows north of Saltford - at a place which subsequently took its name from the legend - Swineford.

The rest of the story is famous. Bladud's pigs also contracted his disease but were cured when they rolled in the hot mud around Bath's springs.

Observing the miracle, Bladud also bathed in the hot murky water and he too was cured.
Returning home in triumph he went on to become King. In gratitude for his cure, Bladud founded a city at Bath and dedicated its curative powers to the Celtic goddess Sul and 900 years later the Romans called the city Aquae Sulis - the Waters of Sul.

Many places in Bath are named after Bladud – there's the Bladud's Head in Larkhall and Bladud Buildings, a road in the centre of Bath.

Information from http://www.kingbladudspigs.org/ - do visit to find out more about King Bladud.





ABC Wednesday was started by Mrs Nesbitt, do visit to find out all about it. More ABC entries can be seen on the ABC Wednesday Anthology blog.
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20 comments:

  1. Katney11:33 pm

    What fun to explore the city looking for the pigs! There have been similar exhibitions in some cities in thei country with cows. I've only seen a few, as I live in a small town.

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  2. Anonymous12:23 am

    Wow what an adventure you must have had getting all those fabulous pig photos and aren't they just brilliant. A few years ago we had something similar on the island instead of pigs we had cows and people decorated them in such fantastic ways. Thanks for posting.

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  3. Anonymous12:37 am

    Wow, that was very interesting! I didn't know that about Bath.

    The story of King Bladud is fascinating. I wonder whether he had the disease of leprosy as we know it, or if it was some other skin disorder or something. I've never heard of leprosy being cured by mud. Anyway I loved the story of his pigs, and some of those in the exhibition are quite beautiful!

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  4. Rinkly Rimes12:47 am

    What a terrific legend. I love turning legends into narrative poetry so watch out for this one!

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  5. Jane Hards Photography1:08 am

    This was fascinating and what interesting images.

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  6. photowannabe1:26 am

    Very dramatic and fun shots of the King's pigs. Thanks for the explaination too.

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  7. Richard Lawry3:34 am

    I had never heard of King Bladud. Thanks for the history lesson, and the pigs.

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  8. Anonymous5:33 am

    Somehow this legend passed me by - or I never took it in on a thick day.
    No cry of 'great post' -superlatives seem inadequate. A quality post with quality pictures.

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  9. Anonymous7:59 am

    What an interesting post! I loved how many ways they can decorate the pig!

    My entries are posted here and here.

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  10. Dragonstar9:02 am

    Such a fun way to keep legend alive. Some of the pigs you found are really decorative, and they are all distinctive.

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  11. Anonymous9:49 am

    Lovely story and great photos,

    Ray

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  12. Tom11:37 am

    I great story and one whichI have never heard of before... the pigs are delightful.... and can you guess what is roasting in my oven at the moment... Ham Joints..uummm!

    Tom
    Mine's Here

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  13. mrsnesbitt1:32 pm

    What an amazing exploration! These are fantastic! Something new for me!

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  14. Kim from Hiraeth2:00 pm

    That was a fun post! In Chicago, you can find cows, in Cleveland, guitars.

    I think I like the pigs best! : D

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  15. Bear Naked4:56 pm

    A few years ago in Toronto, Ontario they had a similar exhibition but the theme was decorated cows.
    It was a lot of fun going around and finding the statues in different parts of the city.
    And some of the decorations were so funny.
    Wonderful photos for todays letter K.

    Bear((( )))

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  16. Liz Hinds6:36 pm

    That's interesting! And I love the pigs. I saw something similar with cows in New York a few years ago.

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  17. Suburbia7:40 pm

    I have seen some of those in Bath, thay are so interesting and a great idea for public art. You have found so many, all so colourful. It was busy when we visited Bath so we didn't hunt many down.

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  18. Carver9:50 pm

    I visited Bath once in the 1970s but must have missed the pigs. I guess many of these pigs you are showing are part of a temporary art show and wouldn't have been there then. I love all these pigs. Such fun.

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  19. Reader Wil10:34 pm

    Thank you for this story and the photos of all the piggies. Last year I was in Bath for a day. And I was impressed by this city and the Abbey.

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  20. Leslie:1:58 am

    These are fascinating - another good reason to come back and visit Bath again. :D

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Thank you for your comments, I appreciate them all, I love to hear from my readers.




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