Cynocephaly
Kynokephale (Greek κυνοκέφαλοι Kynoképhaloi ), composed of ancient Greek κύων kyon " dog" and κεφαλή kephale "head", called dog -headed mythical creatures that exist since ancient times in literature and art, and beat in the Middle Ages with great interest. They belong to the monstrous fable peoples who was conceived of at the edges of the known world ( the civilized world ), especially in India or Africa. The extent to which a belief was their real existence, is hard to determine.
The idea of dog -headed people seem to be spread all over the world. Some researchers suggest their origin in the early myths in which they appear as chthonic demons.
In the literature, the Kynokephalen are represented. Around 700 BC Hesiod calls monstra, including Hemikynes (half dogs). One of the first detailed descriptions derived from Ctesias of Cnidus, who drew inspiration from Persian and Indian sources.
Description
Appearance
Kynokephale have a human figure, however, other features of the dogs as fur or paws, in addition to their dog's head have. In early texts they cover themselves against it only in animal skins.
Culture
In the ancient and medieval sources Cynokephale, as well as other peoples, usually described only very scarce. Specific details of their culture are therefore rare. Many a time is described an inability to speak, which can be explained from the non- human head. Ctesias describes the dog -headed as a peaceful people, which also drives trade with other nations. A communication with the dog -headed should accordingly be possible. Multiple dips on the description of the religion of these mythical creatures, more accurate information is, however, not made. Thus, Jean de Mandeville the Kynokephalen particularly those who fear Him dar. Besides the presentation of the speech-enabled, and God-fearing mercantile dog -headed but they could also be seen as dangerous enemies. This shows a mention bloodthirsty Kynokephalen in the Historia gentis Langobardorum of Paul the Deacon. Other early examples are found in Strabo, Plutarch and Aelian. Strabo mentions Kynokephaloi as a legendary tribe of Ethiopians. Plutarch and Aelian report a Dog King who rules over the Ethiopians. This king is also called Pliny, in addition he knows next to Kynokephalen also Kynomolgi with dog heads. The differences between the two peoples are not made clear. In the history of the diocese of Hamburg, the Adam of Bremen wrote against in 1075, the dog -headed mentioned. They are described here as the men living among the Amazons of a people.
Nutrition
There is disagreement regarding the diet of the dog -headed. According to the Alexander romance they feed only on fish. Another variant is a manuscript of the London's British Library. The dog -headed shown there seems to feed on the leaves of a tree. In connection with the question of nutrition is in the research literature to other mythical creatures cynomolgi, pointed out. John Block Friedman and Michael Herkenhoff think that this is first negotiated a variant of Kynokephalen, later, at least in some sources as a separate breed appears because it was not properly understood. In Pliny milking dogs and drink their milk, whereas they are shown in later sources as Anthropophagi.
Kynokephale in art
A number of examples of Kynokephale in the book illumination indicates Zajadacz - Hastenrath. Also in the ornamentation, especially in Romanesque and Gothic periods, there are dog -headed. An important example is the tympanum of Sainte Marie -Madeleine in Vezelay. The Kynokephalen here take a prominent position adjacent to the head of Christ and are therefore not to be understood as demons, but as a people, which is to be brought by the emitted apostles of the Christian faith. Also in the rose window of Notre Dame Cathedral in Lausanne, a dog -headed is shown, among other wonders peoples. It is provided with the label cinomolgi, but consumed just a human leg. The Erdrandbewohner this window are shown next to the rivers of paradise and are thus representative of exotic places. Visually, from the series fall Kynokephalen in the churches of St. Jacob in Kastelaz, St. Margaret in Lana and St. Martin in Zillis. The two former have fins instead of feet or claws, the latter even has a double-tailed fish body, how else have him just sirens.
Kynokephale in the Southeast European tradition
In the folk tales especially the Slovenes and Croats, also to Carinthia, the dog -headed ( Pesoglavci ) found today. The consensus of these stories shows the image of a cruel ogre who makes it particularly targeted to Christians or to women. The dog heads are more or less intelligent; often they occur in the role of tricked robber. Visually, the dog -headed east embossing sometimes slightly different from their Western European cousins . Common signs are Capricorn or horse legs, One-eyed and leggedness. It is striking, moreover, that the Pesoglavci live in nearby forests.
Kynokephale in Australia
In stories from the Dreamtime of the Australian aborigines are also present dog -headed people who have either created mankind, depending on history, are responsible for their creation or the ancestors of the extant Australian aborigines. The idea of a dog-headed people as ancestors of modern humans was also applied to dogs in general. In such ideas then come from the Australian aborigines of dingoes and people of other origins of the respective areas of their dogs.
Interpretations
The associations with the dog -headed are closely connected with those of dogs in general. The ancient and medieval associations with the dog are very different, a tendency towards negative way, however, is unmistakable. Kynokephale can act as harbingers of hell and armies of the Antichrist.
In the Middle Ages Kynokephalen were perceived as demonic beings from hell, but also as a symbol of possibility for the conversion of even an extremely uncivilized people. The fact that they can stand as an example for the conversion of Erdrandbewohner, in addition to the representations in Vézelay and Saint -Etienne in Auxerre also show the Pentecostal images from the Eastern tradition in which they appear as people who are to be evangelized by the apostles. Clearly, the mission is also shown from the 11th century in Theodore Psalter, where Christ himself taught dog -headed. This role of Kynokephalen stems from several sources, including the Christopher and Christianuslegende and the story of the Apostle Bartholomew and Thomas.
Friedman also describes the legend of Saint Mercurius, the Kynokephale have proselytized, which are then available to him as a helper to the side. This legend is not very common in the west and dips in the sacred art only in Egypt. This positive interpretation that had spread the story of the converted Kynokephalen in the Christian West, is the interpretation of the Gesta Romanorum, which compares the Kynokephalen with preachers.
In contrast, the interpretation of Thomas Cantimpré who understands the Kynokephalen because of their inarticulate barking as a symbol of slander.
As with other animal -human hybrids has often tried to find the origin of the legends in reports of exotic animal species. Ursula Düriegel believed that Kynokephale are equated with baboons. Even medieval writers put Kynokephale with apes in conjunction. Whether the myth of Kynokephalen is really due to monkeys or whether the monkeys were understood only as Kynokephale (miss ), and so perhaps subsequently have changed the image of this creature is uncertain. Kretzenbacher also suggests the demonization of a being from pagan mythology. There may be a connection with the dog or jackal-headed deities of Egypt ( Upuaut, Anubis ). The Kynokephalen are a popular example in anthropological discussions about the definition of man and his distinction from animals in the Middle Ages. Isidore of Seville says that one must classify the Kynokephalen because of their barking rather than animals.
Kynokephale in popular contemporary culture
- In the modern Furry subculture anthropomorphic wolves are usually mistakenly referred to as werewolves, but as these are defined by the ability of metamorphosis, which do not possess the anthropomorphic wolves, this a correct way would have to be referred to as Kynokephale.
- In the PC game Age of Mythology emerge so-called Anubiter: jackal -headed man, the same to their god Anubis.