- Psylli
In his discussion of
North Africa Herodotus tells the story of the Psylli, “a tribe thatmet with extinction.” After the desert wind dried up their water holes, they marched out todo battle with it and were buried alive (IV.173).Pliny the Elder maintains more reasonablythat they were “almost exterminated” in a war with their neighbors, theNasamones , butthe descendants of those who escaped “survive today in a few places” (VII.2.14).Strabo does not mention an unsuccessful war against either the desert wind or theNasamones butonly that the Psylli were still in existence, occupying “a barren and arid region” (XVII.3.23)below the Nasamones. Later writers, especially poets, bestowed on the Psylli a reputationas greatsnake charmers .It is claimed that the Psylli employed tests by animals in order to find out if their offspring was genuine and at the same time if their wives were faithful. Infant Psylli were subjected to snake-bites.
References
* Richard L. Smith, "What Happened to the Ancient Libyans?" "
Journal of World History ", Vol. 14.4 (2003), 459-500.
* Mario Lentano, "Gli Psilli della Grande Sirte e i serpenti," in Idem, "La prova del sangue. Storie di identità e storie di legittimità nella cultura latina". Bologna: Società editrice il Mulino, 2007 (Antropologia del mondo antico, 3), 29-50.
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