|
Dave's Mythical Creatures and Places |
Cynocephali
There were many reports of dog-headed tribes in the Middle Ages. According to Marco Polo, they were found on the island of Andaman, about 1000 miles east of Ceylon. (also called Taprobana) He says: "You may take it for a fact that all the men of the island have heads like dogs, and teeth and eyes like dogs; for I assure you that the whole aspect of their faces is that of big mastiffs. They are a very cruel race: whenever they can get a hold of a man who is not one of their kind, they devour him." (Latham, 1958)
Sir
John Mandeville places them on an unknown island called
Macumeran. The king had an enormous ruby that he wore
around his neck, and they worshipped the ox.
Isidore of Seville says- "The Cynocephali are so called because they have dogs' heads and their very barking betrays them as beasts rather than men. These are born in India." (Brehaut, 1912)
Other reports placed these dog-headed men in the north.
