Case file · Folklore / legend
The Psylli, snake-proof people
Herodotus told how the Psylli of the Gulf of Sirte marched against the south wind that had dried their wells and were buried in the sand. Later Roman writers said Psylli were immune to snakebite and could suck out venom.
440 BCE · 30.60, 18.50 · status: legend
The account
Cato's army reportedly hired Psylli in North Africa, and Octavian supposedly brought them to try to save Cleopatra.