King neptune

[Viking Warrior]

Just been reading an article about Pollywogs and shellbacks re the equator crossing

 

interesting stuff I guess Pollywogs was a version of gollywogs . Is it a word that is now banned. It seems I was a pollywog in the past but now Im a shellback as I still have my certificate from when I was a young child

 

King Neptune, son of Saturn and Obs, is the Roman God of water and the seas. This ritual started in the 18th century, with seafarers paying homage to the King for a safe passage. Often they would give sacrifices at the line such as horses, alcohol and other treasured items. The ceremony was used to ensure that new sea goers were able to withstand prolonged and rough times at sea. All those who are crossing the equator for the first time at sea must pay homage to King Neptune- officers, crew and scientists alike! Shellbacks are those sailors who have already crossed the equator and Pollywogs are the new seafarers. One the line has been crossed, the Pollywogs are tried before King Neptune in court for crimes committed whilst travelling in his realm. King Neptune and his dignitaries are represented by the highest ranking seamen. There is then interrogation, consisting of a variety of embarrassing ordeals such as head shaving, walking through rotten food, silly challenges, wearing clothing back to front, dressing in drag… all for the entertainment of the Shellbacks. After completion of the ceremony, Pollywogs receive a certificate of their new status. But this ceremony has not always been about some silly fun. In fact it was a brutal event during the 19th century and earlier. Pollywogs were beaten with rope and hoses, dragged in the wake behind the ship, and sometimes thrown overboard! This was still the case during World War II, when Pollywogs received ‘Devils Tongue’ treatment; electrified pieces of metal were poked into their sides. The medical logs after crossing the line ceremonies indicated many injuries. It was not until the 1980’s that a curtailment on Crossing the Line ceremonies was imposed by many national authorities.

[Pancake]

interesting stuff I guess Pollywogs was a version of gollywogs .

 

Nope. A pollywog is an old word for tadpole.

[Minsk]

I'm a Shellback!

 

My ceremony wasn't too bad; stripped to boxer shorts, head covered in foam and a 'fake' shave (with a wooden razor), then dunked backwards and head first into a 'pool we made of canvass on the flightdeck.

[Thedelldays]

I was force fe d fish guts for my punishment when crossing the line....and a few punches too

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

King Neptune:

 

 

Abel Xavier: