The King's Rhinoceros

True Weird Stuff

The King's Rhinoceros

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Published on Feb 22, 2025, 12:19:29 AM
Total time: 01:16:41

Episode Description

Today's True Weird Stuff - The King's Rhinoceros

 

In the 1500s, King Manuel of Portugal gifted Pope Leo a beautiful, white elephant as a gesture of obedience to the Vatican. Unfortunately, the majestic beast passed away after only two years. To make up for it, King Manuel tried to ship Pope Leo a rhinoceros named Ganda; however, the rhino met its demise in a shipwreck before it could make it to Rome. The only good thing to come from this debacle was the immortalization of Ganda by an artist who created a sculpture without ever having seen a rhinoceros.

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True Weird Stuff is the award-winning podcast hosted by Sheri Lynch.  Surprising, odd, bizarre - and sometimes insane. Always true. Let us tell you a story…