The Sacrifice of Princess Inikpi

Statue of Princess Inikpi

Between 1515 and 1516 there was a war called The Igala–Benin War. It was a short conflict between the Igala Kingdom and the Kingdom of Benin in what is now Nigeria. For the Iglas people, their land seemed to be in trouble. It's said that streams of water were poisonous and the people were starving. All due to the Beni's

Ayegbu Oma Idoko, the Atta of the Igala kingdom would consult an oracle for help with their problems. However, the oracle would give him devastating news. His beloved daughter Princess Inikpi had to be buried alive for there to be victory. This would devastate him.

For seven days he would mourn the idea of either losing his daughter or losing his people. He would refuse to eat or drink and was in a depressed state. Inikpi seeing her father this way worried her. She would ask him what was wrong and in turn, he refused to talk. This is until the eighth day when he admits in tears to Inikpi and tells her of the oracle's prediction.

Surprisingly Princess Inikpi would take the news well. She loved her father and loved her people just as much as she was loved. She would not go against fate and volunteered for it. She had either gone to the bank of River Niger at Idah or market square. She and nine virgin slaves would be buried alive. The slaves buried with her were to help her on the other side.

It's said that Inikpi's sacrifice did protect her people. The Bini armies came to attack, but they saw the town in flames and retreated. They saw no point in attacking a town on fire and being destroyed already. It was said that the blood of the princess was what deceived them.
Princess Inkpi's sacrifice still stands as an important event. To this day she is still seen as a hero who saved her people from slaughter. A statue of the princess stands at “Ega” in Idah. Today many of the people in Idah are named in her honor.

SOURCES:

Wikipedia (The Igala–Benin War)

Wikipedia ( Princess Inikpi)

Steemit

The Gaurdian July 28, 2019

Pulse October 26, 2022

Dancing Plague of 1518

A Copper engraving of Hendrik Hondius's based on a painting of Pieter Bruegel's believed to be about the dancing plague

It seemed like any normal day in July 1518 for the people of Strasbourg France. A woman named Frau Troffea started dancing in the street without any music. People laughed and clapped at her, but people began to worry as she not only danced to the next day, she danced for six days straight with no rest. Suddenly the dancing became contagious and 3 dozen people joined her by the end of the week. And by the time August came around 400 people had joined in the dancing.
No one really had a clue on what was happening. Physicians of the time claimed that the people were affected by hot blood and were recommended to dance the fever away. People started dying from exhaustion, heart attacks, and strokes.

In response to people dying the physicians recommended more dancing. They erected a stage and brought in music hoping that this will help people dance away the hot blood faster. Their plan didn't work as it had brought in more people to dance. During the height of the dancing mania, at least 15 people died per day. In September the dancing ended as it had started.

This event sounds like it's a legend, but it was a true event. There is no doubt that this Dancing Plague did happen as it was well documented in the town. It wasn't even the only one to have had happened in the 16th century either as events like it happened in Switzerland, Germany, and Holland. None of the others were as extreme as this one though.
There are many theories on why this event happened. One of the bigger theories is that it was all due to mass hysteria. This time it was extremely stressful for the people of Strasbourg. there was a famine happening and many of the residents were suffering from malnutrition due to t it.

Other theories are that they could have ingested Ergot which is a fungus that grows on Rye and grasses like Wheat. When ingested it can cause poisoning and or death. Some of the side effects are hallucinations, spasms, and convulsions which would be a cause for the dancing. It is known as nature LSD. Another theory is that they were part of a religious cult causing them to dance.

SOURCES:

BBC

Historic Mysteries

Discovery

History

Web MD