Ichthyophagi

As Ichthyophagi (Greek and Latin Ἰχθυοφάγοι Ichthyophagi, " fish eaters" ) were described by historians of ancient ethnic groups or peoples who lived in a primitive manner and fed on fish. Various inhabited by Ichthyophagi areas are known by historians and geographers as Herodotus, Pausanias, Arrian, Pliny and Strabo, most are on the coasts of the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea. The Briton Richard Francis Burton confirmed in his work on the Arabian Midian the existence of such Ichthyophagi.

The Ichthyophagi of Makran

Mention

By far the best known representatives of these peoples are the people who settled in the 4th century BC on the coast of the Arabian Sea in Makran. Admiral Nearchus, who drove along the coast on behalf of Alexander the Great is said to have met them, according to Arrian. Even Plutarch, Quintus Curtius Rufus and Diodorus mention in their biographies Alexander. By far the most detailed description of the shape and way of life of these people is found in the Indika of Arrian. It is not known where the Ichthyophagi came from or what people they were most closely related. Whether Curtius Rufus ' name' seaside resident Indians " of anthropological relevance, may be doubted.

Settlement area

The Ichthyophagi populated a vast area on the coast of the Persian Gulf, which, according to Pliny to have been so long that it took thirty days, to sail along it. Arrian mentions that it was ten thousand stadia in length. The land of Ichthyophagi was limited to sea level and inland by steep cliffs. The vegetation was sparse, a few palm trees, thorn bushes and tamarisk (salt cedar ) grew here. Water was scarce. On the coast there was a strong surf and the water retreated far during low tide.

Appearance

The Ichthyophagi to have been rough, unkempt and extremely hostile people who are totally foreclosed lived on the coast and were in contact with any other people, let alone run some form of trade. Your hair and nails are said to have completely uncut, and they are said to have dressed in shabby fur of wild animals. A merchant of the first century, according to they should have spoken Arabic and have worn belt made ​​of palm leaves.

Way of life

The name " Ichthyophagi " to German " fish eaters", already indicates that these people fed mainly on fish. According to Arrian, however, few of them were actually fishermen, as very few possessed suitable for boats. Most lived on the animals that had been washed ashore, or at low tide on the ocean floor and had remained in the tidal creeks. They used nets from the bark of the date palm to catch the fish. Often to be stranded on the coast whales. Also, crabs, oysters and mussels were caught. The smaller fish were mostly eaten raw, the larger first dried in the sun. Sometimes, they should have been baked in ovens. The fish said to have been often ground into flour with stones and whale bones and then made into bread. The cattle that kept the Ichthyophagi, according to Plutarch, " a few wretched sheep", also fish were due to the lack of grass and pasture land, given to be devoured, which meant that even tasted the flesh of fish and was said to be inedible. The natural salt in the country was made into oils. Drinking water to the people mainly from the dew and the little rain water that collected on the roofs of their huts, won. This water was brackish and not quite free from salt. Depth wells, which resulted inferior to light water were dug. Few, it should be able to cultivate on certain parts of the country some cereal, which was, according to Arrian enjoyed by the people as a diversion from the fish literally.

The people lived in huts which were built of whale bones, seaweed and shells. The wealthier people lived in huts, whose basic structure consisted of the complete skeleton of a whale, where the pine was used as input. The Ichthyophagi made ​​arrows, bows and spears made ​​of whalebone. These were tipped with stones and hardened in the fire.

Tell the Ichthyophagi

The Ichthyophagi possessed According to Arrian a myth said that there were at sea an island that is called Nosala and the sun is sacred. The soil on the island is blood red. The island is uninhabited, but anyone who is foolish enough to enter them disappear. Another of traditional in Arrian report tells of a Neride that all who enter the island, turned to fish and then cast into the sea. The sun will also have been angry and ordered her to leave the island, what this under the condition that their enchantments were undone, did. The sun showed compassion for the people and turned them back again. These people came out of the sea and were to those Ichthyophagi.

Other Ichthyophagenvölker

Herodotus reported in the first book of his histories of three Babylonian tribes which feed exclusively on fish and parched him in a similar way as the Ichthyophagi of the Arabian Sea in the sun, crushed and stored in bags made of Indian cotton; for consumption, they were kneaded to a pulp or like bread baked. These, however, were not Ichthyophagi those poor and neglected people as the Alexander historians. Also in Herodotus (III, 19 ) occur Ichthyophagi from the Egyptian Elephantine on the Ethiopic languages ​​and camouflaged by Cambyses II as ambassador to the Ethiopian royal spies were sent. This Ichthyophagi however mentioned only as an intermediary between Cambyses and the Ethiopians and not further characterized. It is probable that it is merely fishermen who lived on the island of Elephantine and due to the proximity to the Ethiopian kingdom of the Ethiopian language were powerful. Pausanias and Ptolemy report Ichthyophagenvölkern the Red Sea.

Appreciation

The existence of such peoples was long dismissed as a myth, partly because these Ichthyophagi occur in the Alexander Romance of the Middle Ages than people without head and with eyes and mouth on the chest. However, Sir Richard Francis Burton reported in the 19th century by such Ichthyophagi who settled on the coast of Arabia. This also allows for the conclusion that there is, at that time was indeed such Ichthyophagi, as described by the Alexander historians.