THE PHARAOH WHO HATED FLIES THE MOST IN HISTORY: USED HONEY TO “SACRIFICE” HIS SERVANTS TO PROTECT ROYAL QUIETHOOD
Ancient history is full of strange and intriguing stories. One of the most unusual stories comes from ancient Egypt, where a powerful king fought not against armies, but against… flies! Pharaoh Pepi II, who reigned more than 4,400 years ago, was famous not only for his longevity, which is rare in royal history, but also for his extreme obsession with tiny winged creatures . And the solution he chose to deal with it? So strange that you might think it’s a legend.
The Humming Obsession of a Divine King
Pharaoh Pepi II ruled Egypt during the Sixth Dynasty (c. 2278–2184 BC). He is believed to have ascended the throne at the age of six and reigned for nearly a century – a figure that is disputed but still considered one of the longest reigns in human history .
Despite being a powerful king, Pepi II was famous for his hatred of flies. According to ancient documents and historians, he was so obsessed with the buzzing sound and annoyance of these tiny insects that he could not stand having flies flying around .
Instead of using fans, nets or other conventional methods, he came up with an unusual method that left posterity both amazed and… shuddering.
Human “bait” strategy
To protect the royal space from the pesky flies, Pepi II ordered his servants to be smeared with honey . The servants were smeared from head to toe with honey and had to stand still around the king – becoming “living traps” to attract flies away from him.
Imagine a pharaoh resting in a cool stone palace, surrounded by servants smeared with honey, standing like a statue in the Egyptian heat – just to get some peace from a few buzzing flies.
This measure not only shows the king’s strange decisiveness but also reflects somewhat the arbitrary and unrealistic personality of some ancient kings.
Science and Modern Speculation: Could Pepi II… Have Been Right?
It may sound strange, but modern entomologists have confirmed that honey is indeed a powerful attractant to flies thanks to its sugar, moisture, and distinctive scent. So, logically, Pepi II’s strategy… could be effective in the short term.
What has been debated, however, is the humane – or more accurately, inhumane – aspect of the method. The use of humans as “living sacrifices” to deal with insects clearly demonstrates the level of hierarchy and absolute power in ancient Egyptian society.
Message from the past: When power surpasses reason
The story of Pepi II is a strange but valuable illustration of human nature when given absolute power. It makes us wonder: how irrational can humans become when they are no longer limited by criticism, rules, or empathy?
The fly is just a small creature, but it left a strange mark in a chapter of Egyptian history – making posterity both laugh and shudder when reading it again.
Conclusion: A King, a Fly, and a Timeless Story
More than four millennia have passed, but Pepi II and his “honey servants” still live on in the human imagination – as a symbol of eccentricity, of seemingly irrational fears, and of the way history preserves small but unforgettable details.
