Re: NANFA-L-- flesh eating lampreys

Christopher Scharpf (ichthos-in-comcast.net)
Mon, 05 Dec 2005 19:32:53 -0400

It's often reported that the ancient Romans were lamprey connoisseurs who
fattened pond-kept lampreys by allowing them to feed on disobedient slaves.
According to early ichthyology expert Ted Pietsch, this is an historical
inaccuracy based on a mistranslation of the Latin "muraena," which means
"moray." So if ancient accounts are correct, the Romans fed slaves to moray
eels, not lampreys.

Not that that's any better.

Chris Scharpf
Baltimore

> From: Mike Austin <emasquinongy-in-yahoo.com>
> Reply-To: nanfa-l-in-nanfa.org
> Date: Mon, 5 Dec 2005 14:37:28 -0800 (PST)
> To: nanfa-l-in-nanfa.org
> Subject: NANFA-L-- flesh eating lampreys
>
> Came across a program on the "History Channel" about the Roman Empire and
> there was reference to emperors torturing slaves by throwing them into pools
> full of "flesh eating lampreys".....this reference was supported by footage
> showing a writhing mass of lampreys (not eels). Pools that supported lamprey
> were different from all others (baths, swimming etc.) in that they contained
> inverted pots embeded into the edges of the concrete walls...each pot was
> occupied by a lamprey....
>
> I didn't know lamprey attacked people.... is there any truth to this? What
> species and where?
>
> Mike
/-----------------------------------------------------------------------
/ This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes
/ Association (NANFA). Comments made on this list do not necessarily
/ reflect the beliefs or goals of NANFA. For more information about NANFA,
/ visit http://www.nanfa.org Please make sure all posts to nanfa-l are
/ consistent with the guidelines as per
/ http://www.nanfa.org/guidelines.shtml To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get
/ help, visit the NANFA email list home page and archive at
/ http://www.nanfa.org/email.shtml