御歳344の亀さん？

　ナイジェリアのお話。
　やや旧聞に属するかというところだが

BBC Nigeria's royal tortoise said to have lived to the age of 344 in Oyo state 4 October 2019

　治癒の力をもつということで王政時代から大事に扱われたという亀さんが死亡したと伝える。344歳。ははあ亀は万年とはいいますなあと思ってしまうが、そりゃあまあ、なんぼなんでもこれはないだろうよ、という。

「A royal palace in Nigeria has announced that its resident tortoise has died following a short illness, saying it was a remarkable 344 years old.

The tortoise, named Alagba, meaning elderly one, lived in the palace of Ogbomoso in Oyo state.」

「She was thought to have healing powers and attracted visitors from far and wide.

The revered reptile was apparently brought to the palace by the kingdom's third leader, Isan Okumoyede, who reigned from 1770 to 1797.

However, Isan Okumoyede reigned just over 200 years ago. This means the tortoise would have already been 100 when she was found, for her to have reached the grand old age of 344.」

「Mr Wilkinson has a simple explanation: "I don't think there's much of a mystery here to be honest - there has been more than one tortoise."

"They loved it so much they went and bought another one."」

　まあその、常識的には代替わりしてますよね、と。それも含めての治癒能力の信仰の伝承だったのだろう。変わらず生き続ける聖なる亀の信仰。近現代的ヨーロッパ的な、といってみよう、こういう世界観に至って、我々は昔の世界観を信じることが出来なくなったし、昔の人々がもっていただろう思想信条を理解することもできなくなっているのだろうなあ、と。そんなお話。