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24x7newsbengal · 2 years

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The Blemmyes : Myth or Reality

Subhajit Makhal: The Blemmyes also known as the headless people of Africa. But who are they??? Let's find out.... In the Eastern part of Libya a country in the continent of Africa around fifth century BC there was a tribe of men with no heads upon their shoulders like humans. Instead, they had their eyes and their mouths on their chests. Sounds unreal and a fairy tale fiction story. Right? !!!! Na Na Na. It could have been believed as a fiction or myth but the existence of a tribe called Blemmyes had been testified by not only local ancient Libyans but also by famous historical figures such as famous Greek writer Herodotus. Herodotus claimed that a certain group of people with eyes, nose and mouth on their chests and had no heads existed in his book 'Histories'. Many years later Roman writer Pliny insisted that Blemmyes existed in Africa. Pliny mentioned about Bleymmes in his book 'Naturalis Historia'. He even further declared that Blemmyes were a nomadic tribe who were savages and very dangerous. As centuries after centuries passed stories of Blemmyes continued and spread further. In 1596,a famous English explorer named Sir Walter Raleigh who was a famous courtier of Queen Elizabeth 1 ,wrote in his book about his journey to Guyana where he reportqas that " There was a nation of people whose heads were not above shoulders " and those abd those people had their eyes in their shoulders and their mouths in the middle of their breasts. According to research the Blemmyes were in fact real African people who lived in Northern Nubia (Modern Ethiopia) between 600 BC and 300 AD. However their heads were on their breasts or not remains unknown although famous writers, authors and even explorers testified of Blemmyes. The tribe of Blemmyes had an army and a kingdom. We know this because both Greek and Romans. The Bleymmes had a king. Blemmye writings mention various royal officials who seemed to be arranged in a hierarchy. Beneath the kings were phylarchs, who were chiefs of separate tribes.

An ancient art depicting the Blemmyes.. Other officials include sub-chiefs, court officials, and scribes. The Blemmyes kings had the power to levy taxes and grant exemptions as well as authority over the territory. Many theories states that Blemmyes shifted from Africa towards South America by crossing Atlantic Ocean. Some say they moved towards North America. Some theorists say that Blemmyes shifted towards India. Great explorer Christopher Columbus believed that he would find Blemmyes and not people in the new world that is America. In 1492 ,when Christopher Columbus crossed the Atlantic Ocean in search of fast route to East Asia and the Southwest Pacific he landed a in a place that was unknown to him. There he found treasures - extraordinary trees, birds and gold. But there was one thing that Columbus expected to find that he didn't find and that was Blemmyes. Upon his return in his official report Columbus noted that he had discovered a great many islands inhabited by people without number. He praised the natural beauty of the island. But Columbus also added, "I have not found any monstrous men in those islands, as many as thought.

The Blemmyes kingdom in the middle of map. Now let us see what scientists think of legend Bleymmes. Scientists does not believe in the theory of Blemmyes even later medieval Europeans who believed that there is nothing headless men and according to them Blemmyes are just exaggerated report about apes found in Africa. Writers and exploerers mistook the apes as Bleymmes. Some people gave an explanations that earlier, native warriors of Africa employed tactics of head tucked close to their chest while marching while marching in one knee on the ground. Or maybe those warriors had custom of carrying shields ornamented with faces. So we conclude that Blemmyes infact were a real tribe that existed in Africa but whether they had no heads remains a mystery........ Read the full article

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