In 455 BC, Aeschylus, the great playwright known as the Father of Greek Tragedy, died in a most unexpected way. He was said to have been killed by a tortoise which was dropped by an eagle that had mistaken his head for a rock suitable for shattering the shell of the reptile.
In his Naturalis Historiæ, Plinyadds that Aeschylus had been staying outdoors to avert a prophecy that he would be killed by a falling object.
Some other sources claim that the bird in question was the Lammergeier vulture, which were apparently more common in southern Europe 2,000 years ago than they are today. As carrion feeders, they feast on the bones of deceased animals that other vultures leave behind. Lammergeiers carry large bones high in the air and drop them on rocks before descending to feed on the exposed marrow. This method apparently also works for tortoise shells. According to legend, the top of Aeschylus’ head and its marble likeness are similar, at least from a vulture’s point of view.
