In 1545, a killer #whale washed up in the #Baltic Sea near #Greifswald (DE)

This led to the first scientific description of the species in Europe. The stranding is also associated with the death of Martin #Luther
1/9
#whalehist
🖼️http://www.marien-greifswald.de/index.php/rundgang.html

The three-part #whale.
This book entitled 'Geishi' (Blubber) was produced in #Japan in 1794. It contains large format drawings of 15 species of whales. Here: a right whale.
I am absolutely fascinated by it (and wish I could read Japanese)
#whalehist
digital.staatsbibliothek-berlin.de/werkansicht/...

Engraving by Jan van der Straet, around 1595

During the reign of Emperor Claudius, an #orca entered the port of #Ostia (42AD). It was attracted by a shipwreck and became trapped by sand. Claudius ordered ships to attack it and kill it with lances to entertain the people
#whalehist #whale
📖Pliny, Nat Hist, IX,v,14-15
🖼️Cooper Hewitt, 1901-39-114

Mystery on the margins:
Where do these fish swim to? - Into the mouth of a #whale!
According to medieval bestiaries, whales emitted a sweet odour to attract fish, which they could then comfortably eat.

#medievalsky #whalehist
(13th c.; BnF, Latin 6838B, f.37; portail.biblissima.fr/ark:/43093/i...)

Well-fed, frightened #orca
Illustration by Giullaume #Rondelet, Libri de Piscibus Marinis (1554), p. 483
#whalehist

Map of #Spitsbergen by Thomas Edge (1625). In the margins scenes of #whaling (e.g. hunting the #whale, burning the blubber, whalers' quarters) and a great #walrus
#whalehist

www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collectio...