Myths and origins Pork has been around for at least 40 million years. Early man ate meat cured with ash. Then salt was discovered. Pig breeding began in the Stone Age. The origin of the word pork means “the begetter”.
			The pig was held in high regard, having taught Egyptians the curing process by means of their trotters. Honoured by the Celts and revered by the Druids, the pig became the symbol of knowledge, initiation and culture. In the Middle Ages the pig, greatly valued for its meat, was the object of much attention, even affection, and called “Sir”. Pigs are prolific breeders and easy to rear. The pig provides a substantial amount of meat in as many as fifty flavours, to delight the individual palate. Another good point about the pig: every part of it can be used!
							Butchers’ convention in the Middle Ages (National Library, Turin)
					Legend of Saint Anthony and the piglet Anthony of Thebes, born in Southern Egypt, lived to the age of 105 and took a pig as his companion. Thus in the Middle Ages the hospitallers of St Anthony, father of hermits, had the right to allow their pigs to roam the streets, with a bell round their neck.