View source for Elephant

The '''elephant''' is a large quadruped with a [[leather]]y hide and a prominent proboscis or ''trunk''.  It exists in two species, one in [[Africa]], the other in [[Asia]].

In the [[classical]] period the Asian elephant was known only locally; the African, however, achieved fame and prominence when the Cathaginian adventurer [[Hannibal]] obtained a supply (presumably from trans-Saharan sources) with which he mounted an invasion of [[Roman]] [[Spain]], and then, via the Alps, of [[Italy]]. All but one of his elephants died, of swamp fever, before he attacked [[Rome]], but the "mighty Roman Republic" had learned of elephants, and of the reticence of [[cavalry]] to approach them, and Roman generals thereafter lusted for elephant troops with which to cow their foes.

In the [[medieval]] period, the elephant was at the same time a "familiar" shape from [[Roman Empire|Imperial Roman]] days, and an exotic luxury, given the difficulty of actually obtaining one.  An elephant was supposed to be autopsied around the early-[[16th century]].

==Elephants in Heraldry===
The [[heraldic]] elephant was uncommon in period, and was often depicted supporting a [[tower]] on its back.
In [[SCA]] heraldry the presence or absence of the a tower does not constitute a [[point of difference]], even if specifically blazoned.

In the [[Kingdom of Ealdormere]] and especially the [[Barony of Rising Waters]] depictions of elephants are associated with the late Baroness [[Fionnadh Averylle O'Connor of Maidenhead]], and tend not to be used on arms, out of respect for that lady.

[[category:animal]] [[category:device heraldry]]