Crossing the Line with SIO

October 2009 By: Gina McCollough & Peter Brueggeman

Crossing-the-Line Ceremony A ceremony performed on board ships for passengers and crew crossing the equator for the first time, known as (Slimy) Pollywogs. Traditionally, it is performed by one of the ship's crew attired as King Neptune, wearing a golden crown and flowing beard, and clasping a trident, sometimes including his first assistant Davy Jones and her Highness Amphitrite and other dignitaries. King Neptune summons the Pollywogs one by one who, after receiving various attentions and enduring various initiations and ordeals, are tipped backwards into a bath of sea water, where King Neptune's assistants ensure they receive a good ducking. The initiates are then received into the kingdom of Neptune and henceforth known as Shellbacks. The ceremony probably owes its origin to ancient pagan rites connected with the propitiation of the Greek sea god Poseidon, known to the Romans as Neptune. In classical times it was the custom to mark the successful rounding of prominent headlands by making a sacrifice to the appropriate deity, many of whom had temples erected in their honour on such points. FROM Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea, and other sources

Crossing the Line with SIO

The following are pictures taken of crossing the line ceremonies on Scripps

Institution of Oceanography expeditions when crossing the equator.

caljsioa_ac12-344-18-0026

Crossing the Line ceremony participants are shown here aboard the D/V Glomar Challenger while on one of the legs of the Deep Sea Drilling Project. It has

been a long naval tradition to initiate pollywogs, sailors who have never crossed the Equator, into the Kingdom of Neptune, the legendary god of the seas, upon their first

crossing of the Equator. Sailors who have already crossed the Equator are nicknamed (trusty) shellbacks, often referred to as Sons of Neptune; those who are crossing for the first time are nicknamed (slimy) pollywogs and usually undergo an initiation rite that leaves them literally

slimy as in this photo. 1983.

caljsioa_ac12-344-18-0030

Aboard the D/V Glomar Challenger while on one of the legs of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, a pollywog is paraded past

King Neptune’s court in this picture. 1983.

caljsioa_ac1608230024

Neptune's court aboard the R/V Horizon when they crossed the line during the SIO’s Capricorn

Expedition in 1952. Front row, left to right: Aloysius A. Cartisser; Eddy R. Terrel; Miller as King

Neptune; and Marvin F. Hopkins. Back row (left to right): Steward; Jack L. Wood; Robert

Livingston; Friel; Henry William Menard; Robert C. Swanson; and William R. Riedel. 1952.

90-23-0042

The statement “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” may not apply to a Crossing the Line

ceremony on a Scripps ship. Roger Revelle is shown here as a pollywog during the Capricorn

Expedition. 1952

caljsioa_mc1850020013

Edward D. Goldberg (far right) sits on Neptune’s Court, and is watching the initiation rights of a

pollywog, aboard the R/V Argo during the Nova Expedition. 1967.

caljsioa_ac1608100023

Walter Munk (kneeling) is the pollywog here undergoing initiation during the Crossing the Line ceremony on board the R/V Horizon during the Capricorn Expedition.

1952.

caljsioa_2006-08-01150007

During Hugh Bradner’s Deep Ocean Seismic Expedition aboard the DWYN WEN, Bradner

guided a large yellow onion, called a sphere, with his nose across the sticky gooey deck of

the ship. 1963

caljsioa_2006-08-01130002

The “King Neptune Rex” proclamation certificate that was given to Hugh Bradner after completing his Crossing the Line ceremony aboard the DWYN WEN.

August 5, 1963.

caljsioa_2003-05-10-0035

Crossing the line activities during the Indopac Expediton, Robert Mariner Kieckhefer is blindfolded and dunked in a tub of water as one part of his initiation rite as a pollywog.

September 24, 1976.

caljsioa_ac1608100025

A few members of the Royal Court for the Crossing the Line ceremonies aboard the R/V Spencer F. Baird during the Downwind Expedition.

November 2, 1957.

caljsioa_ac1608100025

Crew and scientists aboard the R/V Horizon gather for a picture after a Crossing the Line ceremony while on the Capricorn Expedition. 1952.

caljsioa_2002-06-0180

The pollywogs are being subjected to initiation rites by the shellbacks on board the R/V Horizon during the Capricorn Expedition.

1952.

caljsioa_2002-18-4669

Crossing the line activities during the Indopac Expedition aboard the R/V Thomas Washington. September 24, 1976.

caljsioa_2003-05-12-0618

During her Crossing the Line initiation on the R/V Thomas Washington during Leg 10 of the Indopac Expedition, Sandra Smith kissed the Royal Baby’s belly (RobertFisher)

February 20, 1977.

caljsioa_94-0702090025

A few members of the Royal Court for the Crossing the Line ceremonies aboard the R/V Spencer F. Baird during the Downwind Expedition.

November 2, 1957.

caljsioa_94-0702090028

Crossing the Line ceremonies aboard the R/V Spencer F. Baird during the Downwind Expedition. November 2, 1957.

caljsioa_2002-06-0181

During the Crossing the Line ceremony during the Capricorn Expedition, Robert Dill was dressed for the occasion so that he would not be splattered too much. Behind him is Henry W. Menard

and Russell W. Raitt. 1952.

caljsioa_2002-06-0182

Crossing the Line activities on board R/V Horizon during the Capricorn Expedition. 1952.

caljsioa_2002-06-0188.tif

Art Maxwell in a false beard played King Neptune in the Crossing the Line ceremony on board R/V Horizon during the Capricorn Expedition. 1952.

caljsioa_2002-06-0186

Henry W. Menard is pictured here on the right getting ready to pour something perhaps disgusting on a pollywog’s head, during the Crossing the Line ceremony on board R/V Horizon

on the Capricorn Expedition. 1952.

caljsioa_90-8-SC12-0001

King Neptune’s court, who were members of the ship crew and scientists from the United States, South Vietnam and Thailand, are shown here getting prepared to

meet the pollywogs who have been summoned to appear before them. Aboard the STRANGER during the Naga Expedition.

December 1960.

caljsioa_2003-05-10-2506

Robert Mariner Kieckhefer in a swill bucket as a pollywog during the Indopac Expedition, Leg 8. September 24, 1976.

caljsioa_2003-05-10-2508

Robert Mariner Kieckhefer as a pollywog during the Indopac Expedition, Leg 8, being examined by Neptune’s Court Doctor, played by Roger Battey.

September 24, 1976.

caljsioa_2003-05-10-2503

Crossing the Line ceremony during the Indopac Expedition, Leg 8, Neptune’s Court Doctor, played by Roger Battey. Others in this photograph are Simon M. Ferreira; Richard P. Phillips;

Leonard V. Urbano; and Russell W. Raitt. September 24, 1976.

caljsioa_2003-05-10-2510

A few members of Neptune’s Court for the Crossing the Line ceremony on the R/V Thomas Washington, during the Indopac Expedition, Leg 8. Identified people in this photograph are

Simon M. Ferreira, Robert Mariner Kieckhefer, Jim McKee, and James L. Coatsworth. September 24, 1976.

caljsioa_2003-05-10-0028

Crossing the Line ceremony activities aboard the R/V Thomas Washington, during the Indopac Expedition, Leg 8. Identified people in this photograph are George G. Shor;

Robert Mariner Kieckhefer (man blindfolded); and Richard Thompson. September 24, 1976.

caljsioa_2003-05-10-2509

End of Display

Robert Mariner Kieckhefer is being washed down as a pollywog during the Indopac Expedition, Leg 8. September 24, 1976.