Psylli

The Psylli were an ancient North African tribe or ethnic group.

Historical accounts

Of the Psylli Herodotus described "a tribe that met with extinction" after the desert wind dried up their water holes.(IV.173)^{[citation needed]} Pliny the Elder said that they were "almost exterminated" in a war with their neighbours, the Nasamones, but the descendants of those who escaped "survive today in a few places" (VII.2.14).^{[citation needed]} Strabo does not mention an unsuccessful war against either the desert wind or the Nasamones but only that the Psylli were still in existence, occupying "a barren and arid region" (XVII.3.23)^{[citation needed]} below the Nasamones. Later writers, especially poets, bestowed on the Psylli a reputation as great snake charmers.^{[citation needed]}

In his Roman History, Cassius Dio makes reference to the Psylli as being sought out by Octavian to draw out the snake venom with which Cleopatra had poisoned herself (LI.14).^{[citation needed]} According to Dio, the Psylli were completely immune to snake bites and were all male.^{[citation needed]}

Customs

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. If the infant died of the snakebite, illegitimacy was supposed to be implied.

Further reading

1. Richard L. Smith (December 2003). "What Happened to the Ancient Libyans?". Journal of World History 14.4: 459–500.