The Macrobians (Μακροβίοι) were an ancient Proto-Somali tribal kingdom positioned in the Horn of Africa mentioned by Herodotus.[1] They are one of the legendary peoples postulated at the extremity of the known world (from the perspective of the Greeks), in this case in the extreme south contrasting with the Hyperboreans in the extreme east.[2][3][4]
Reconstruction of the Oikumene (inhabited world) as described by Herodotus in the 5th century BC.
According to Herodotus' account, the Persian EmperorCambyses II upon his conquest of Egypt (525 BC) sent ambassadors to Macrobia, bringing luxury gifts for the Macrobian king to entice his submission. The Macrobian ruler, who was elected based at least in part on stature, replied instead with a challenge for his Persian counterpart in the form of an unstrung bow: if the Persians could manage to string it, they would have the right to invade his country; but until then, they should thank the gods that the Macrobians never decided to invade their empire.[5][6]
Culture
Herodotus detailed how the Macrobians practiced an elaborate form of embalming. The Macrobians preserved the bodies of the dead by first extracting moisture from the corpses, then overlaying the bodies with a type of plaster, and finally decorating the exterior in vivid colors in order to imitate the deceased as realistically as possible. They then placed the body in a hollow crystal pillar, which they kept in their homes for a period of about a year.[7] This is described by Herodotus in the following quote:
"and after this [the Persian spies] saw last of all their receptacles of dead bodies, which are said to be made of crystal in the following manner:—when they have dried the corpse, whether it be after the Egyptian fashion or in some other way, they cover it over completely with plaster 21 and then adorn it with painting, making the figure as far as possible like the living man. After this they put about it a block of crystal hollowed out; for this they dig up in great quantity and it is very easy to work: and the dead body being in the middle of the block is visible through it, but produces no unpleasant smell nor any other effect which is unseemly, and it has all its parts visible like the dead body itself. For a year then they who are most nearly related to the man keep the block in their house, giving to the dead man the first share of everything and offering to him sacrifices: and after this period they carry it out and set it up round about the city.[8]
People
In the fifth century BC, the Greek historian Herodotus, known as the father of History in the western traditions, refers to a race called the Macrobians who dwelled south of Egypt in what is now modern Somali territory. These people were famous for their longevity (an average age of 120 years) due to their diet that mainly comprises meat and milk. They were also, according to Herodotus, the "tallest and most handsome among all men". They were fierce warrior herders and wealthy seafarers according to Herodotus. All descriptions of the people agree with the pastoral Somali figures who are tall, handsome warriors, with a diet mainly consisting of meat and milk. Somalis also have a rich maritime culture. This point of view was affirmed by the Indian scholar, Mamta Agarwal, who wrote "these people were none other than the inhabitants of Somalia, opposite the Red Sea."[9][10]
^Abdurahman, Abdillahi (18 September 2017). Making Sense of Somali History. Scarecrow Press. p. 47. ISBN978-1-909112-79-7.
^Briggs, Phillip (2012). Somaliland. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 7. ISBN9781841623719.
January 07, 2023
macrobians, Μακροβίοι, were, ancient, proto, somali, tribal, kingdom, positioned, horn, africa, mentioned, herodotus, they, legendary, peoples, postulated, extremity, known, world, from, perspective, greeks, this, case, extreme, south, contrasting, with, hyper. The Macrobians Makrobioi were an ancient Proto Somali tribal kingdom positioned in the Horn of Africa mentioned by Herodotus 1 They are one of the legendary peoples postulated at the extremity of the known world from the perspective of the Greeks in this case in the extreme south contrasting with the Hyperboreans in the extreme east 2 3 4 Reconstruction of the Oikumene inhabited world as described by Herodotus in the 5th century BC Contents 1 Accounts 2 Culture 3 People 4 See also 5 ReferencesAccountsAccording to Herodotus account the Persian Emperor Cambyses II upon his conquest of Egypt 525 BC sent ambassadors to Macrobia bringing luxury gifts for the Macrobian king to entice his submission The Macrobian ruler who was elected based at least in part on stature replied instead with a challenge for his Persian counterpart in the form of an unstrung bow if the Persians could manage to string it they would have the right to invade his country but until then they should thank the gods that the Macrobians never decided to invade their empire 5 6 CultureHerodotus detailed how the Macrobians practiced an elaborate form of embalming The Macrobians preserved the bodies of the dead by first extracting moisture from the corpses then overlaying the bodies with a type of plaster and finally decorating the exterior in vivid colors in order to imitate the deceased as realistically as possible They then placed the body in a hollow crystal pillar which they kept in their homes for a period of about a year 7 This is described by Herodotus in the following quote and after this the Persian spies saw last of all their receptacles of dead bodies which are said to be made of crystal in the following manner when they have dried the corpse whether it be after the Egyptian fashion or in some other way they cover it over completely with plaster 21 and then adorn it with painting making the figure as far as possible like the living man After this they put about it a block of crystal hollowed out for this they dig up in great quantity and it is very easy to work and the dead body being in the middle of the block is visible through it but produces no unpleasant smell nor any other effect which is unseemly and it has all its parts visible like the dead body itself For a year then they who are most nearly related to the man keep the block in their house giving to the dead man the first share of everything and offering to him sacrifices and after this period they carry it out and set it up round about the city 8 PeopleIn the fifth century BC the Greek historian Herodotus known as the father of History in the western traditions refers to a race called the Macrobians who dwelled south of Egypt in what is now modern Somali territory These people were famous for their longevity an average age of 120 years due to their diet that mainly comprises meat and milk They were also according to Herodotus the tallest and most handsome among all men They were fierce warrior herders and wealthy seafarers according to Herodotus All descriptions of the people agree with the pastoral Somali figures who are tall handsome warriors with a diet mainly consisting of meat and milk Somalis also have a rich maritime culture This point of view was affirmed by the Indian scholar Mamta Agarwal who wrote these people were none other than the inhabitants of Somalia opposite the Red Sea 9 10 See alsoGreco Roman ethnography History of Djibouti History of Somalia History of Somaliland History of Eritrea Proto Somalis Somalis Aithiopia Ancient Libya Sigelwara Land Fountain of Youth Kingdom of KushReferences Herodotus the Histories book 3 114 The Geography of Herodotus Illustrated from Modern Researches and Discoveries by James Talboys Wheeler pg 528 Wheeler pg 526 Njoku Raphael 2013 The History of Somalia Greenwood p 47 ISBN 9780313378577 John Kitto James Taylor The popular cyclopaedia of Biblical literature condensed from the larger work Gould and Lincoln 1856 p 302 White John S 2018 04 05 PA115 The Boys and Girls Herodotus BoD Books on Demand ISBN 978 3 7326 5420 8 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a Check url value help Society of Arts Great Britain Journal of the Society of Arts Volume 26 The Society 1878 pp 912 913 Herodotus the Histories book 3 24 Abdurahman Abdillahi 18 September 2017 Making Sense of Somali History Scarecrow Press p 47 ISBN 978 1 909112 79 7 Briggs Phillip 2012 Somaliland Bradt Travel Guides p 7 ISBN 9781841623719 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Macrobians amp oldid 1130034346, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
