I know of Maximinus Thrax, but do not for one second believe that he was over 8 feet. Like I said, people used to exaggerate these personalities to cause fear and terror and this guy was a complete tyrant.
Herodotus also exaggerates, or just writes what he heard from those around him. For instance a million Persians crossing over to invade Greece...? Recent estimates put it at much much lower than that, but of course such exaggerations are just meant to mean 'an immense amount' etc and not necessarily literal.
Archaeological evidence seems to indicate that Europeans were shorter.
In one of my history classes in University I had the professor lecture us on `debunking old myths`and 2 of the biggest misconception in history are that people believed people were shorter and he said that was a myth and in ten to 20 years no text book will say that, it was old and out-dated information
.....and 2,... that no one believed the earth was flat, a few idiots came up with that one and it stuck, every nation has always known the earth is round, no one ever thought it was flat, big misconception and he said it was propaganda to make nations sound stupid. I believe him too, how stupid do you have to be to believe the earth was flat, go on a mountain and you will see that it is round, look at the sun, the moon, look at the edge of the horizon, everyone knew it was round.
Silly non-sense people were not shorter