Pigs appear in mythologies worldwide as symbols of fertility, abundance, gluttony, and the underworld, with roles ranging from sacred animals to divine boars. Their meaning shifts dramatically across cultures, reflecting local environments and beliefs.
Pigs in Ancient Near Eastern Mythology
In ancient Mesopotamia, the pig was a complex figure. The Sumerian goddess Ninhursag was sometimes called ‘Lady of the Pigs,’ and pigs were offered to her. However, by the time of the later Babylonian and Assyrian periods, pigs were increasingly seen as unclean, associated with the demoness Lamashtu, who was said to suckle piglets and puppies. This dual view—sacred in some contexts, despised in others—carried into the Hebrew Bible, where the pig is declared unclean in Leviticus, a prohibition that shaped later Middle Eastern and Islamic practices.
The Boar in Celtic and Norse Mythology
In Celtic and Norse traditions, the wild boar (the pig’s untamed ancestor) was a powerful and noble creature. The Celts associated boars with warfare, hunting, and feasting; boar figurines adorned helmets and war trumpets, and the animal was linked to the god Cernunnos. In Irish mythology, the boar was a frequent adversary in heroic tales, such as the pursuit of the boar of Ben Bulben in the story of Diarmuid and Gráinne.
Norse mythology features several famous boars. The god Freyr rode a golden-bristled boar named Gullinbursti, crafted by the dwarves, whose bristles illuminated the darkness. In Valhalla, the warriors ate the flesh of the boar Sæhrímnir every night; the beast was resurrected each morning to be eaten again. The boar was also associated with the goddess Freyja, who rode a boar in some accounts. The boar’s connection to fertility and abundance is clear in these tales, as it provided endless food and was a symbol of the harvest.
Pigs in Greek and Roman Mythology
In Greek mythology, the pig was closely tied to the goddess Demeter and her daughter Persephone. The sacrifice of pigs was central to the Thesmophoria, a women-only festival honoring Demeter, where piglets were thrown into pits to decompose and later retrieved and mixed with seed corn to ensure fertility. This practice underscores the pig’s association with agricultural renewal.
The Calydonian Boar, a monstrous boar sent by Artemis to ravage the land of Calydon, was hunted by a band of heroes including Meleager and Atalanta. This myth highlights the boar as a destructive force requiring heroic intervention. In Roman mythology, the pig was sacrificed to Mars before military campaigns, and the sow was an emblem of the founding of Lavinium, as recounted in Virgil’s Aeneid, where Aeneas sees a white sow with thirty piglets, fulfilling a prophecy.
Pigs in Hindu and Buddhist Mythology
In Hindu mythology, the boar (Varaha) is an avatar of the god Vishnu. According to the Puranas, Vishnu took the form of a great boar to rescue the earth goddess Bhudevi from the cosmic ocean, lifting her on his tusks. This myth symbolizes the divine restoration of order and the protection of the earth. The boar is revered, and its image appears in temples across India.
In Buddhist mythology, the pig appears in the Bhavacakra (Wheel of Becoming) as one of the three animals at the hub, representing ignorance (moha). The pig, along with the rooster (attachment) and the snake (aversion), forms the cycle of samsara, illustrating that ignorance is the root of suffering. This is a negative symbol, but it serves a didactic purpose in Buddhist teachings.
Pigs in Chinese and Japanese Mythology
In Chinese mythology, the pig is the twelfth animal of the zodiac, associated with honesty, diligence, and good fortune. The myth of the Jade Emperor’s race tells how the pig arrived last, having stopped to eat and nap, but was still granted a place. The pig is also linked to the household god Zao Jun, who is sometimes depicted with a pig, and pork is a central offering in ancestral rites.
In Japanese mythology, the wild boar (inoshishi) is a symbol of courage and valor. The god Hachiman, a deity of war and archery, is associated with the boar, and boar charms are used for protection. The boar is also a figure in folk tales, such as the story of the boar that helped the hero Momotarō, who was given a boar as a companion on his quest.
Pigs in African and Oceanian Mythology
In Yoruba mythology (West Africa), the pig is not a prominent figure, but in other African traditions, the bushpig and warthog appear in trickster tales. For example, in some East African stories, the warthog is depicted as foolish or boastful, often outwitted by the hare.
In Oceanian mythology, the pig is a crucial animal, particularly in Papua New Guinea and Polynesia. In many Melanesian cultures, pigs are a form of wealth and are sacrificed in ceremonies to honor ancestors or spirits. The pig is also a common motif in creation myths; in some versions from the Solomon Islands, a pig is said to have helped create the world by diving to the bottom of the sea to bring up mud.
Common Themes and Misconceptions
A common misconception is that pigs were universally despised in antiquity due to their scavenging habits. In reality, their symbolism is highly variable. While some traditions (like ancient Israel) forbade pork, others (like Celtic and Norse cultures) celebrated the boar as a noble quarry and the pig as a provider of feasts. The pig’s dual nature—as a source of food and a scavenger of waste—made it a powerful symbol of life, death, and rebirth.
Another theme is the pig as a psychopomp or guide to the underworld. In Egyptian mythology, the pig was associated with the god Set, who was linked to chaos and the desert, and pigs were sometimes sacrificed to him. In Greek mythology, the piglets thrown into the pits during the Thesmophoria were connected to the underworld, as the pits were believed to lead to the realm of Persephone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the pig symbolize in different cultures?
In many cultures, the pig symbolizes fertility, prosperity, and abundance (e.g., Norse, Celtic, Chinese). In others, it represents gluttony, filth, or ignorance (e.g., Buddhism, ancient Israel). The boar, specifically, often symbolizes courage and martial prowess (e.g., Celtic, Japanese).
Why is the pig considered unclean in some religions?
The prohibition in Judaism and Islam is often attributed to the pig’s scavenging diet and the lack of a ruminant digestive system, but the exact reasons are debated. In the Hebrew Bible, it is simply declared unclean without detailed explanation, and later interpretations focused on hygiene and the avoidance of pagan practices.
Who is the boar avatar of Vishnu?
Varaha is the third avatar of Vishnu in Hindu mythology. He appeared as a giant boar to rescue the earth goddess Bhudevi from the cosmic ocean, lifting her on his tusks. This myth is found in the Vishnu Purana and other texts.
What is the role of the pig in Norse mythology?
In Norse mythology, the boar Gullinbursti belongs to Freyr and is a symbol of fertility and light. The boar Sæhrímnir is eaten nightly by the warriors in Valhalla and resurrects each day, representing the endless abundance of the afterlife. The boar is also linked to Freyja, who rides a boar in some accounts.
How is the pig represented in the Chinese zodiac?
The pig is the twelfth animal of the Chinese zodiac, representing traits like honesty, diligence, and good fortune. According to legend, the pig arrived last to the Jade Emperor’s race because it stopped to eat and nap, but it was still rewarded with a place in the zodiac.
Are there any myths where pigs are evil?
Yes, in some traditions, pigs are associated with negative forces. In ancient Mesopotamia, the pig was linked to the demoness Lamashtu. In Buddhism, the pig symbolizes ignorance, one of the three poisons. In Greek mythology, the Calydonian Boar is a destructive monster sent by Artemis to punish a king.
Related
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- Amun-Ra: Egyptian Mythology’s Supreme God
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