Acephali
Encyclopedia
Acephali is a term applied to several sects as having no head or leader.
In particular, the term refers to a strict monophysite sect that separated itself, in the end of the 5th century, from the rule of Peter Mongus, Patriarch of Alexandria, and remained "without king or bishop" until they were reconciled by Mark II
(799 - 819).
The term is also used to denote clerici vagantes, i.e. clergy without title or benefice, picking up a living anyhow. Certain persons in England
during the reign of King Henry I of England
were called Acephali because they had no lands by virtue of which they could acknowledge a superior lord.
The name is also given to certain legendary races described by ancient naturalists and
geographers as having no heads, their mouths and eyes being in their breasts, generally identified with Pliny's
Blemmyae
. They live in Libya
.
In particular, the term refers to a strict monophysite sect that separated itself, in the end of the 5th century, from the rule of Peter Mongus, Patriarch of Alexandria, and remained "without king or bishop" until they were reconciled by Mark II
Pope Mark II of Alexandria
Pope Mark II of Alexandria, was the Coptic Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the Holy See of St. Mark from 799 to 819.He is not to be confused with Markianos of Alexandria ....
(799 - 819).
The term is also used to denote clerici vagantes, i.e. clergy without title or benefice, picking up a living anyhow. Certain persons in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
during the reign of King Henry I of England
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
were called Acephali because they had no lands by virtue of which they could acknowledge a superior lord.
The name is also given to certain legendary races described by ancient naturalists and
geographers as having no heads, their mouths and eyes being in their breasts, generally identified with Pliny's
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus , better known as Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian...
Blemmyae
Blemmyes (legendary creatures)
The Blemmyes was a tribe which became fictionalized as a race of creatures believed to be acephalous monsters who had eyes and mouths on their chest. Pliny the Elder writes of them that Blemmyes traduntur capita abesse, ore et oculis pectore adfixis...
. They live in Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
.