I SUSPECT SUCH A KNIFE WOULD BE ONLY FOR WEAR IN COURT AND WAS PROBABLY NEVER USED AS THERE WOULD BE PLENTY OF SLAVES ABOUT TO CUT OR PREPARE ANY FOOD. THE REASON FOR BRINGING UP HIPPO HUNTING DURING ANCIENT TIMES WAS TO NOTE THAT THE HIGH RANKING EGYPTIANS CONSIDERED IT A SORT OF NOBLE SPORT AT THE TIME. THAT WOULD EXPLAIN THE AVALABILITY OF HIPPO IVORY AND ALSO THE POSSIBILITY OF IT BEING MADE FROM SOMEONES HUNTING TROPHY. THE CARVINGS COULD ALSO DEPICT EVENTS FROM THAT PERSONS LIFE A SORT OF MINI BIOGRAPHY.
THE HIPPO HUNTING WAS DONE FROM RAFTS, THEY WERE HARPOONED AND SPEARED UNTIL THEY COULD BE PULLED OUT OF THE WATER WITH THE ROPES BY A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE. I IMAGINE IT GOT VERY EXCITING WHEN A MAD 3 TON HIPPO CAME CHARGEING UP OUT OF THE WATER TO SEE WHO WAS PULLING ON THE ROPE. PHAROS AND KING TUT PARTICIPATED ACCORDING TO WHAT WAS IN THE MUSEUM. THE HIPPO IS A VERY DANGEROUS BEAST AND IF ANGERED WILL ATTACK ALMOST ANYTHING. I HAVE HEARD THAT THEY STILL KILL QUITE A FEW PEOPLE TODAY,MOSTLY BECAUSE THEY COME OUT AT NIGHT AND EAT THE CROPS AND THE PEOPLE TRY TO DRIVE THEM AWAY AND ARE KILLED.
Last edited by VANDOO; 3rd January 2006 at 08:42 PM.
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