Aigamuxa
Ringkasan
Aigamuxa adalah monster pemakan manusia dalam legenda orang Khoikhoi, yang terkenal karena matanya terletak di kaki, bukan di wajah.
The aigamuxa is a man-eating monster from the legends of the Khoikhoi, best known for having its eyes on its feet rather than in its face.
Kisah dan tradisi
Aigamuxa adalah makhluk legenda orang Khoikhoi. Kisah-kisahnya dikumpulkan oleh Leonhard Schultze-Jena untuk bukunya Aus Namaland und Kalahari. Dalam buku itu, makhluk dongeng ini dikatakan hidup jauh di pedalaman negeri, dan namanya merujuk pada matanya yang berada di punggung kaki, bukan di wajah. Karena matanya di kaki, aigamuxa tak dapat melihat mangsanya ketika berburu. Untuk melihat, ia harus bertumpu pada tangan atau kepala, atau berbaring di pasir. Ia hidup di gurun, bersembunyi di balik bukit pasir, dan konon mengincar pengembara yang berjalan sendirian pada malam hari. Makhluk-makhluk ini hidup berkelompok dan memburu manusia, yang mereka kira zebra, lalu mencabiknya dengan gigi panjang yang runcing. Meski buas, mereka digambarkan bodoh dan canggung, sehingga selalu lapar karena jarang berhasil menangkap mangsa. Dalam banyak kisah, manusia cerdik berhasil lolos dari mereka. Dalam salah satu kisah, Serigala (Jackal) menemukan bahwa mata Aigamuchab ada di kakinya, lalu menaburkan tembakau ke mata itu dan melarikan diri. Dalam cerita-cerita itu, makhluk ini biasanya tampil sangat mirip manusia sehingga korbannya tertipu tentang wujud aslinya.
The aigamuxa is a legendary creature of the Khoikhoi. Its tales were gathered by Leonhard Schultze-Jena for his book Aus Namaland und Kalahari. That book places the fabulous being far in the interior of the land and explains that its name refers to its eyes, which sit on the top of its feet instead of in its face. Because its eyes are on its feet, the aigamuxa cannot see its prey while it hunts. To look around it must prop itself on its hands or head, or lie down in the sand. It lives in the desert, lurks behind dunes, and is said to stalk travellers walking alone at night. These creatures live in groups and hunt people, whom they mistake for zebras, tearing them with long, pointed teeth. Fierce as they are, they are portrayed as dull and clumsy, and so are always hungry because they rarely catch anyone. In many tales, clever humans manage to slip away from them. In one tale the Jackal discovers that Aigamuchab's eyes are on its feet, then scatters tobacco into them and runs off. In these stories the creature usually appears so human-like that its victims are fooled about its true nature.
Fakta utama
- Budaya / Culture
- Tradisi Afrika bagian selatan (kelompok regional)
- Kawasan / Region
- Afrika
- Era
- Its tales were recorded in the book Aus Namaland und Kalahari
- Klasifikasi / Classification
- Monster
- Habitat
- Desert
Nama lain / Alternate names
Aigamuchab, Айгамукса
Tahukah kamu? / Did you know?
Aigamuxa konon mengira manusia sebagai zebra.
The aigamuxa is said to mistake humans for zebras.