What Are The Most Common Misconceptions About Pirates?
Conny Waters - AncientPages.com - The fascinating tales of pirates and their thrilling escapades have intrigued audiences of all ages. Their lives, often depicted in films and literature, allow us to delve into the world of the most notorious sea marauders of the 18th century.
Credit: Adobe Stock - Pirmyn
Elements such as hidden treasures, missing legs or eyes, and the role of women on pirate ships are frequently highlighted. However, this begs the question—how much of this is factual? What aspects are mere myths and actual historical events? This article aims to clarify some prevalent misconceptions about pirates.
Did Pirates Wear Eye Patches And Have Peg Legs?
A common misunderstanding is that pirates used eyepatches to keep one eye adjusted to the darkness for when they needed to go below deck during combat. However, experiments testing this theory have yielded inconclusive results. No historical proof supports the idea that eyepatches were utilized for this reason. The truth is much more straightforward - patches were typically used to conceal an empty eye socket following an injury. Possibly, some light source, like lanterns or portholes, would have lighted most spaces below deck, making an eyepatch unnecessary.
The concept of 'peg legs' being prevalent on pirate ships is mainly speculative, given the lack of direct eyewitness accounts and archaeological evidence. The high-risk environment aboard these vessels could have necessitated their use, but no concrete evidence supports this. The widespread association of eyepatches and peg legs with pirates can be traced back to Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, where Long John Silver is depicted with both.
Did Pirates Bury Their Treasures?
The suggestion that pirates buried their treasure and created maps to locate it later is often linked to Captain William Kidd (c1655-1701). He attempted to evade imprisonment by sending a letter to Lord Bellomont, the governor of New York and Massachusetts, asserting that he had concealed a cache of gold and jewels on Gardiner's Island, somewhere off the coast of New York. Newspapers picked this story up, and rumors about Captain Kidd's hidden wealth began circulating. While some pirates may have indeed buried their treasures, this was not a common practice. Pirates typically preferred immediate access to their share of the loot and were known for spending it swiftly.
Contrary to popular belief, the "loot" amassed by pirates often did not consist of silver or gold. Most of their plunder was typically comprised of commonplace trade items, including food, lumber, cloth, animal hides, and other goods.
Did Pirates Make Their Victims Walk The Plank?
In numerous pirate movies, we often witness victims forced to walk on a plank positioned over the ship's edge, inevitably leading to their fall and subsequent drowning. However, this depiction does not align with the actual practices of historical pirates. Instead, many victims - including those forced into piracy to replace fallen crew members or hostages taken during combat - were restrained and confined below deck, where they were subjected to brutal beatings that frequently resulted in disfigurement.
Marooning was another form of punishment employed by pirates. This was typically reserved for individuals who posed minimal threat on land. If an individual declined to join the pirate crew but pledged silence about their activities, they would be abandoned on an island with a bottle of water, gunpowder, a pistol, and a bullet as their only provisions.
Were Women Considered Bad Luck On Pirate Ships?
A common misunderstanding exists that women were considered to bring misfortune on ships. This belief is rooted mainly in maritime folklore, which features female entities like mermaids and sirens enticing sailors to their doom. However, these tales reflect more the fear of drowning than any apprehension towards women.
Credit: Adobe Stock - warpaintcobra
In reality, beyond the sphere of myths and legends, women frequently traveled on ships, including pirate vessels. They often assumed domestic roles or resided onboard as the spouses of captains and other high-ranking officers. Notable pirates such as Bartholomew Roberts and Blackbeard did prohibit women from their ships; however, this was due to concerns over potential jealousy and conflict among the crew rather than any superstition about bad luck.
Written by Conny Waters – AncientPages.com Staff Writer
Copyright © AncientPages.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part without the express written permission of AncientPages.com
Expand for referencesHistory Revealed Magazine, October, 2021
Defoe, Daniel (Captain Charles Johnson) - "A General History of the Pyrate
More From Ancient Pages
-
What Were The Most Important Inca Laws That All Citizens Had To Respect?
Ancient History Facts | Aug 16, 2017 -
Trove Of Coins Dating Back To The 1100s Found On Visingsö, Sweden
Archaeology | Apr 8, 2024 -
Antediluvian Artifact Discovered In Egyptian Tomb May Solve The Great Pyramid Mystery?
Featured Stories | May 3, 2018 -
Odeuropa – Unusual Project Will Recreate The Smells Of Old Europe And Store The Scents In A Library
News | Nov 17, 2020 -
Sacred Number One: Very Powerful Symbol Equated With The Mystic Center
Ancient Symbols | Oct 2, 2019 -
Mystery Of Biblical Noah’s Strange Connection With Red-Skinned Giants And The Watchers – Celestial Secrets – Part 2
Biblical Mysteries | Jan 28, 2021 -
World’s Largest DNA Study Of Viking Skeletons Re-Writes Ancient History – Norse Warriors Were Not Those Who We Thought
Archaeology | Sep 16, 2020 -
Rasputin – Controversial Mystic With Healing Powers – An Evil Or Misunderstood Man?
Featured Stories | Aug 4, 2018 -
On This Day In History: Greek Archaeologist Manolis Andronikos Who Discovered Tomb of Philip II of Macedon, Was Born – On Oct 23, 1919
News | Oct 23, 2016 -
Did The Dogon Tribe Have Knowledge Of Theoretical Physics 5,000 Years Ago?
Civilizations | Aug 2, 2017 -
Rare 2,000-Year-Old Intact Sundial With Inscription Discovered In Italy
Archaeology | Nov 9, 2017 -
Evidence Of Dual Mass Extinctions 260 Million Years Ago – Found
Fossils | Apr 10, 2023 -
Ancient City Of Hippos-Sussita And The Mysterious Disc-Shaped Copper Plates
Archaeology | Apr 18, 2017 -
Artifacts From King Henry VIII’s Warship The Mary Rose – Analyzed
Archaeology | Apr 28, 2020 -
Anomalous Ancient Structures In The South West Pacific Remain Unexplained
Civilizations | May 19, 2018 -
Unusual Ancient Human Bones Found In A Grave In Derbyshire – Burial Place Of A Legendary Person?
Featured Stories | Apr 24, 2024 -
‘Graffiti’ Found On The Walls Of Dayu Cave, China
News | Aug 25, 2015 -
Two-Story Houses With Balconies Unearthed In Ancient City Of Pompeii, Italy
Archaeology | May 18, 2018 -
Corsica: ‘The Island Of Statue-Menhirs’ – Where Humans Lived At Least 7,000 BC
Featured Stories | Feb 28, 2024 -
Batavia Shipwreck Reveals Secrets Of 17th-Century Dutch Seafaring Domination
Archaeology | Oct 30, 2021