Response to The Rhinoceros
On May 1515, Nostra Señora da Ajuda arrived in the Tagus estuary from a voyage. Aboard the ship were various spices and a rhinoceros. At this time, a rhinoceros (or referred to in Portugal as a “ganda”) was more of an idea than a concrete existence that could be commonly accepted or acknowledged by the masses. The rhino’s purpose for being on the ship was to be gifted to the governor of Portuguese India, Albuquerque, by Sultan Muzafar, the ruler of Cambaia at the time. Compared to the rhinoceros, elephants were more acceptable or “common”. An elephants gifted to Henry III of England in 1255, which of course being 2 centuries prior isn’t convincing as common in comparison.
This animal, which could only be depicted through art and remained unseen by so many, was attempted to be gifted to Pope Leo X by Dom Manuel, the king of Portugal at the time. The rhinoceros was dressed as what was compared to a bride or groom. He/she was dressed in a gilt-iron chain and a green velvet collar with roses and carnations. The rhino would have seemed decadent to an outsider.
Up until 1993, Albrecht Durer’s woodcuts were what represented the rhinoceros globally, and his representations were very extravagant, like how the rhinoceros was clothed in preparation for delivery to Pope Leo X. There were adaptations which built off of Durer’s interpretation. Though, in modern times, the rhinoceros is photographed and can be visited at zoos. There isn’t a need for so many phonetic or written descriptions of the animal.
On May 1515, Nostra Señora da Ajuda arrived in the Tagus estuary from a voyage. Aboard the ship were various spices and a rhinoceros. At this time, a rhinoceros (or referred to in Portugal as a “ganda”) was more of an idea than a concrete existence that could be commonly accepted or acknowledged by the masses. The rhino’s purpose for being on the ship was to be gifted to the governor of Portuguese India, Albuquerque, by Sultan Muzafar, the ruler of Cambaia at the time. Compared to the rhinoceros, elephants were more acceptable or “common”. An elephants gifted to Henry III of England in 1255, which of course being 2 centuries prior isn’t convincing as common in comparison.
This animal, which could only be depicted through art and remained unseen by so many, was attempted to be gifted to Pope Leo X by Dom Manuel, the king of Portugal at the time. The rhinoceros was dressed as what was compared to a bride or groom. He/she was dressed in a gilt-iron chain and a green velvet collar with roses and carnations. The rhino would have seemed decadent to an outsider.
Up until 1993, Albrecht Durer’s woodcuts were what represented the rhinoceros globally, and his representations were very extravagant, like how the rhinoceros was clothed in preparation for delivery to Pope Leo X. There were adaptations which built off of Durer’s interpretation. Though, in modern times, the rhinoceros is photographed and can be visited at zoos. There isn’t a need for so many phonetic or written descriptions of the animal.
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