The Monopod is a mythical creature described as having a single leg in the center of its body, often found in ancient texts.
Monopod or Skiapod (σκιάποδες) means “one leg.” This term first appeared in the play The Birds by Aristophanes, which was performed in 414 BC. This strange-looking creature was also described in Natural History by Pliny the Elder, a Roman naturalist and philosopher, who recorded travelers’ stories about encounters or sightings of Monopods in India. Pliny emphasized that they were first mentioned by the ancient Greek historian and physician Ctesias in his book Indika (India), which documented the scenery of the Persians in India, although the text is incomplete. Pliny described the Monopods as follows:
“Ctesias also speaks of another race of people called Monocoli, who have only one leg but can leap remarkably quickly. They are also known as Skiapodae because they have the habit of lying on their backs during extremely hot weather, sheltering under the shade of their own foot to avoid the sun.”
Furthermore, many ancient Roman and Greek texts mention Skiapodae (or Monopods). However, the existence of this race has often been met with skepticism. Saint Augustine (354-430) referred to Skiapodes in his work The City of God, Book 16, Chapter 8, questioning how such a peculiar race could be descendants of Adam or the sons of Noah.
The legend of the Monopod continued to be passed down through the Middle Ages. A notable description comes from the priest and scholar Isidore of Seville in his work Etymologiae:
“It is said that the Sciopod people live in Ethiopia; they have only one leg and move very quickly. The Greeks call them σκιαπόδες (those who dwell in the shadow of their foot) because when it is hot, they lie on their backs on the ground and use their oversized foot for shade.”
Osma Burgo de Beatus, map by Beatus of Liébana.
In fact, the Hereford Mappa Mundi and the map created by the theologian and geographer Beatus of Liébana prominently feature illustrations of Sciopods at the edges of the world.
Decoding the Mystery of the Monopod
There are many theories that deny the existence of Monopods and suggest a misunderstanding in ancient records. Notable opinions include:
According to Professor Carl A. P. Ruck (Boston University), the idea of Monopods in India may relate to the Vedic god Aja Ekapad (this deity is also associated with the one-legged form of the god Shiva).
Vedic God Aja Ekapad.
Traveler John of Marignolli (1338 – 1353) provided a more detailed explanation after his travels to India. John denied the existence of Monopods and the idea that they sheltered in the shade of their foot. He described that Indians often went barefoot and carried a small tent-like device on a stick, which they would open for shelter during sunny or rainy weather. He even managed to bring this device back to Florence.
Another plausible explanation for the Monopod is that those who witnessed or recounted stories exaggerated the image of ascetics in India, who meditate on one leg.
Monopod and Its Impact on Popular Culture
Whether or not Monopods truly existed, over time, the legend of this strange race has inspired numerous literary works. One can find Monopods in C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia, in the Icelandic Saga of Erik the Red, and in Umberto Eco’s Baudolino. Moreover, Monopod has also become the term for a camera tripod – a device that also has a single supporting leg.
