 Pomponius Mela and Pliny the Elder turn them into headless beings with their faces on their chests.The cultural and military power of the Blemmyes started to grow to such a level that in 193, Pescennius Niger asked a Blemmye king of Thebes to help him in the battle against the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus.In 250, the Roman Emperor Decius put in much effort to defeat an invading army of Blemmyes.