Saturday, March 30, 2019

The Belarus Giant...!

Did you know that there were really giants not that long ago? Most of course were that way because of genetic defects, but others we still don't know what made them grow so big. Here from Listverse is the story of the Belarus Giant.

Fyodor Makhnov



Photo credit: viola.bz

Fyodor Makhnov (alternatively spelled “Fyodor Machnow” or “Fedor Machnov”) was born in Kasciuki (in today’s Belarus) in June 1878. He started growing rapidly at eight and measured 200 centimeters (6’7″) when he was 14. He wore custom-made clothes and shoes and slept on a custom-made bed. His boots reached the waist of normal-sized people, and children often hid inside his boots when playing hide-and-seek.

Makhnov joined the circus when he was 14 but started performing at 16. Although sources vary about his height, he would later reach approximately 250 centimeters (8’2″) as he grew into adulthood.

Scientists often met him to ask for contracts for ownership of his corpse, but he always refused over fears that he could be murdered. He later married Efrosinja Lebedeva, who was 100 centimeters (3’3″) shorter than him even though she was taller than most women. They had a girl and three boys.

Makhnov had a huge appetite. Every day, he consumed a hefty breakfast of 20 eggs, eight loaves of bread, and 2 liters (0.5 gal) of tea. For lunch, he consumed 1 kilogram (2.2 lb) of potatoes, 2.5 kilograms (5.5 lb) of meat, and 3 liters (0.8 gal) of beer. For dinner, he managed a loaf of bread, 15 eggs, and 1 liter (0.3 gal) of milk. He died in 1912 at age 34.

There certainly wasn't anything wrong with his appetite, that's for sure. A body that big needs a lot of fuel, I reckon.

Coffee out on the patio, where the temps are supposed to reach about 83.

6 comments:

Gorges Smythe said...

I've read that overly tall people and overly short people tend to die young.

Mamahen said...

Very Interesting! We are suppose to have temps in the 70s today but only 40 tomorrow and the 20s tomorrow night.

HermitJim said...

Hey Gorge...
In the report I was reading, that was the case. Many seemed to die in their 20s or 30s. Guess health problems were the primary cause.
Thanks for stopping by today!


Hey Mamahen...
This crazy weather just keeps on going. Almost like some strange curse or something.
Thanks for coming over today!

JO said...

I'm surprised that in todays medical knowledge they didn't know that he might have had a pititary problem. Back then they just didn't have this knowledge and yes they died young. Today this can be taken care of. It's very interesting what that tiny little thing can cause.

I'm ready for some outdoor coffee.

Dizzy-Dick said...

An acquaintance of mine is 7'3" tall. He told me that he is the shortest of his brothers.

HermitJim said...

Hey Jo...
We have made a great deal of progress in the medical field over the years. We still have a ways to go, however.
Thanks, dear, for dropping by today!


Hey Dizzy...
I would hate to pay their grocery bill! Wonder if their parents were tall?
Thanks for coming over today!