The Pharoah and the Flies

According to legend, Pharaoh Pepi II Neferkare of the Sixth Dynasty (c. 2345 BCE–c. 2181 BCE) had an unusual way of protecting himself from ancient Memphis’ many and varied flies. Neferkare liked to cover slaves in honey and position them around his person as living insect attractors.

The Pharaoh was reportedly very pleased with the level of protection that this strategy brought. The thoughts of the slaves, as is usual in history, was not recorded.