What is a good derogatory term for a neanderthal-like people?

[Dina]

There is a race of nomads called the Antari in my world. They are ritually hunted by the Anurans, the Roman-esque power of the world, in a ritual practice called the Fleshing. In my readings of historical texts, it's never beneath a group of people to label the "ethnically inferior" group with various terms of spite. Anyone have any suggestions?

Some information on the Antari:
They are nomadic and primitive, living in small isolated clans. They worship Tari, the one the Anurans consider the Devil. During the Fleshing, an Antari clan is shackled and thrown into Arissi, a chasm the Anurans believe to be the entrance to Hell.
The Antari are large, scaling seven feet tall, and are in possession of long, gangling limbs. Their bones are thicker, their skulls and bodies broader than a normal human's. (Think human ancestors.)
They are physically, but not mentally, different from a normal human.
There are only a handful of them living on the human continent, and most, if not all, have made their livings as mercenaries. (It's difficult to be accepted anywhere outside the battlefield.)
They are viewed as unintelligent beasts. People are often surprised that they are so graceful.

 

[pmmg]

Tari worshippers would seem to be sufficient.

 

[Miles Lacey]

Gorillas, apes, degenerates, bog scum, animals, Tari's lackeys, throwbacks (assuming humans evolved in your world)...

 

[Futhark]

Derogatory terms are often used to dehumanise in order to justify their poor treatment, not just for spite. This usually takes the form of pointing out physical differences or their state of civilisation. I believe it was the Greeks who labelled any non Greek speaking people as barbarians (correct me if incorrect). So I would go for ‘knuckle dragging savages’ or ‘barefoot bandits’, something like that.

 

[TheKillerBs]

I believe it was the Greeks who labelled any non Greek speaking people as barbarians (correct me if incorrect).

They did but the reason we use barbarian as we do is because the Greeks used it to label non-Greek speakers, not because the Greeks thought that of all non-Greek speakers. Barbarian basically means "someone who speaks gibberish" and was used in a non-perjorative sense to refer to non-Greeks until the Greco-Persian wars. Also, barbarian is the etymological root of the word "Berber".

 

[Gray-Hand]

What is something that they do that the Anurans consider despicable, or worthy of scorn that distinguishes them from the Anurans?

Do they wear their hair in a stupid way?
Do they have ritual scars or tattoos or a particular style of dress that is different to Anurans?
Do they ride cows instead of horses?
Do they eat a particular type of disgusting food?
Is there a particular part of their religious worship that is a bit silly or weird?

Play on that.

Why are they called Antari?

 

[Gotis]

The Earth's Children series uses the term flathead for neanderthals.

 

[Maker of Things Not Kings]

If they had once been of greater number, and Antari is the common name for their race, they might simply have been referred to as Ants, which makes for a quick mental picture for readers as to how they are viewed by the Anurans. Maybe that's too on the nose but I think it might be easier to accept a shortened name that happens to correspond with something small and irrelevant, (though fascinating) in our world instead of a term like, say, barbarian which may have no direct reference in your world but does in our own (though, of course, you may create one to fit!).

 

[Dina]

If they had once been of greater number, and Antari is the common name for their race, they might simply have been referred to as Ants, which makes for a quick mental picture for readers as to how they are viewed by the Anurans. Maybe that's too on the nose but I think it might be easier to accept a shortened name that happens to correspond with something small and irrelevant, (though fascinating) in our world instead of a term like, say, barbarian which may have no direct reference in your world but does in our own (though, of course, you may create one to fit!).

Oh, that's actually...kinda clever. Thanks. I like that a lot.

 

[ShadeZ]

There is a race of nomads called the Antari in my world. They are ritually hunted by the Anurans, the Roman-esque power of the world, in a ritual practice called the Fleshing. In my readings of historical texts, it's never beneath a group of people to label the "ethnically inferior" group with various terms of spite. Anyone have any suggestions?

Some information on the Antari:
They are nomadic and primitive, living in small isolated clans. They worship Tari, the one the Anurans consider the Devil. During the Fleshing, an Antari clan is shackled and thrown into Arissi, a chasm the Anurans believe to be the entrance to Hell.
The Antari are large, scaling seven feet tall, and are in possession of long, gangling limbs. Their bones are thicker, their skulls and bodies broader than a normal human's. (Think human ancestors.)
They are physically, but not mentally, different from a normal human.
There are only a handful of them living on the human continent, and most, if not all, have made their livings as mercenaries. (It's difficult to be accepted anywhere outside the battlefield.)
They are viewed as unintelligent beasts. People are often surprised that they are so graceful.

I have a race that are highly predatory and are seen as bloodthirsty. They are called a number of derogatory terms that I researched. I came to find derogatory term often aim to dehumanize the sub just to the world. For example, all over the world you have that beast, creature, thing, monster, and so on so these would all be good. You also tend to have links to profession as well. This predatory race ar called the Slayers by humans in the modern era of their world due to their more violent tendancies.

 

[Don Coyote]

Tar Devils
Tar Head
Aunties/Anties
Tar Tar
Auntie Tar
Annies
Targets
Taints (T'aint human)
Flesher
Bonehead
Tar Back
Bulk
Tar Foot
Pot Belly
Tar Belly
Mud Gut

 

[K.S. Crooks]

Thick brow, thick ridge, wide face, thals, primitives

 

[Saigonnus]

Mud-dwellers... llama (insert farm animal here) shagger...

 

[Toby Johnson]

mud dweller, scum, numb skull