Machlyes
According to Herodotus, their young women held a ritual battle with sticks and stones annually with neighboring Auseans (Ancient Greek: Αὐσέες).[1] Pliny the Elder claimed they were hermaphrodites that had a male half and a female half, possibly inspired by the martial practices of the females.[2][3] French anthropologist Lucien Bertholon hypothesized that the Maghrawa tribal confederation in Tunisia were descendants of the Machlyes.[4] In the book Sweet Shadows by Tera Lynn Childs, the machlyes Achilla saves Gretchen from the merdaemon in the abysses.[citation needed] This article about a legendary creature is a stub.