The Anthropophagic Antilles: The Origins of the Term “Cannibal” – An Invention of Christopher Columbus

The subject matter of this article concentrates on the origins of the term “cannibal,” and attributies its origin to Christopher Columbus’ misinterpretation of indigenous Caribbean communication. The research perspective involves a critical analysis of Columbus’ Diario, exploring the influence of his skewed portrayal and its impact on the perception of indigenous people. The research material primarily comprises Columbus’ writings, with a focus on the narrative shift regarding cannibals and the economic implications of such representations of New World. Additionally, the article endeavours to reconstruct the viewpoint of the indigenous Caribbean people, depicting the Europeans as beings that emerge from a symbolic space and labelled as “cannibals.”