Exploring Pirate Myths

Hollywood has provided us with a romantic picture of the Caribbean pirate - eye patch, stumbling around on wooden legs while chugging a mug of rum. Listed below are a number of myths and probable answers to the real pirate life.

Did pirates wear earrings? Yes! Pirates were a superstitious group, and some believed that the precious metals in earrings improved their eyesight. (Acupuncturists even lend credence to this myth, as the earlobe is a critical pressure point for some eye ailments.) Other accounts describe pirates wearing earrings to pay for the entrance to the world beyond after they died.

Did pirates use eye patches? Probably. Medical conditions were not what they are today, and some pirates covered an empty eye socket with a patch.

Did pirates wear wooden legs? Sure. Again, medical conditions were primitive, especially out at sea. (Doctors were not on every ship, and sometimes the ship's cook played the role of doctor.) Many times a leg had to be amputated to save the man. If someone was missing a leg, a lightweight wooden substitute might have help him to get around the ship.

Did pirates make people walk the plank? We're not sure. There aren't any accounts of pirates making people walk the plank until the practice started showing up in Hollywood movies. History tells us that more severe punishments awaited pirates, including receiving lashes on the back, abandonment, and death.

Did pirates keep parrots on the shoulders? Probably not. The mess alone would deter even the most hardy sea pirate. This is most likely another Hollywood invention to make pirates appear more colorful.

Were there women pirates? Yes. A few famous women pirates were Ching Shih, Ann Bonny, Mary Read, and Grace O'Malley. Mary Read posed as a man for much of her life, and married a fellow pirate soon before her death. Ann Bonny slipped away with love Calico Jack for a life of adventure on the sea.

Did pirates act democratically? Amazing, history tell us that they most likely did. They instituted a Code of Conduct, many pirate boats allowed each pirate a vote on attacks, and the crew shared the value of the booty they stole. Many pirates were also compensated if they lost a limb, finger, or eye while on board. Work on the ship was divided among the crew.

Were there Pieces of Eight? Yes. A silver coin, a Piece of Eight was worth about 8 Spanish "reales", and was marked with the number eight. Pirates also traded in Doubloons, which were made out of gold, and were a more valuable coin than the Piece of Eight. Both coins were easily used as currency in the Caribbean islands.