There are many legends and myths that have fascinated people for centuries with their mystery and mysteriousness. One of these myths is the legend of the kinokephalos, creatures with animal heads on human bodies. But to what extent does this legend correspond to reality?
The history of the myth
The myth of kinokephalos appeared in antiquity and was widespread in various cultures around the world. In Greek mythology, cynocephals were described as creatures with the heads of dogs, lions or bulls. In Egyptian mythology, the cynocephalus was represented as the god Anubis, a creature with the head of a jackal.
In the Middle Ages, the legend of the cynocephalus gained new prominence. European travelers, returning from Asia and Africa, told of encounters with unusual creatures that had animal heads on human bodies. These stories aroused the interest of scientists and researchers, who tried to prove or disprove the existence of kinokephalos.
Modern scholars categorize the myth of the kinokephalus as a fantastic legend that arose from observations of animals. People may have seen animals that stood on their hind legs and resembled humans, and based on these observations created the legend of creatures with animal heads on human bodies.
There is also a version that the myth of the cynocephalus arose from observations of people who wore animal masks on their heads. In ancient times, this was common in ritual rites and ceremonies.
Is it really as simple as science wants to make it seem? Of course it is not so simple. Can it be explained by the huge number of mentions and drawings of cynocephalus in ancient manuscripts and books that all these descriptions are only people in masks? Were many eyewitnesses so stupid that they could not tell the difference between a person in an animal mask and a real living creature with a human body and an animal head?
Is it really as science says it is? And did the church classify people in masks as saints? After all, kinokephalos have even been recognized by the church as saints and there are many icons with their image. You can explain anything you want, but this does not mean that this explanation is really based on facts, and not on a simple desire to “close the inconvenient for the official history issue.
По материалам: http://www.planet-today.com/2023/05/cynocephalians-myth-or-reality.html