Friday, July 25, 2008

Pigs!

Funny thing about Bath.

 They have these pig sculptures everywhere.  Kinda like the cow sculptures that were in Chicago, right?  I never saw them there, but I heard about them.
So, I found this children's book in the gift shop for the Roman Bath, and it had this story.  It was kind of a fairy tale, but it did explain why there were pigs all over.
Once upon a time, there was a prince born who developed a skin ailment.  Unable to cure him, his royal parents banished him since he couldn't sit on the throne with spots.
He eventually winds up caring for an old woman's pigs.  She, of course, does not recognize the prince since he's been living rough in the forest for some time now.
During the course of his duties, he notices some of the pigs seem to have the same skin problem he has.  And he sees that these pigs ease their discomfort by bathing in a certain place.
Well, the prince decides to try the pigs' remedy, and it works for him, too!
He returns to his home and after a bath, a shave and a change of clothes convinces his parents that it is indeed, him, their son, cured of his spots.
I have no idea if this is true, but it has the ring, doesn't it?

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