Research Items

Abstract

Pathology and Deformation in Ancient Egypt, A theory to account for the peculiarities of the human body as depicted in the art of Amarna recently put forward by Herr Felix Proskaues is discussed by Dr. Edith M. Guest in Ancient Egypt and the East, 1933, Pts. 3-4. The theory in question suggests that rickets was widespread in Egypt from the time of the Helio-politan priesthood, who derived their influence from the discovery of the healing powers of the sun, this also explaining Akhenaton's devotion to sun worship. As against this theory, it is pointed out that neither was the anti-rachitic vitamin D likely to have been deficient iri the food of the ancient Egyptians nor were the conditions of their life such that they would have suffered from a deficiency of sunlight owing to avoidance of excessive heat. The dwarfism, of which there are representations in Egyptian art, is not rachitic but achondroplastic. Five, and probably all six, of the representations of dwarfs at Amarna exhibit the inward turning feet due to talipes, which is of a pathological origin quite different to rickets. Turning to the evidence of osteology, among the thousands of skulls which have been examined, there is no evidence of rickets. It is suggested that the peculiar head form of the royal family is an inheritance of hyperdolichocephaly due to a deformation of the pelvis; but there is no evidence to support the view that hereditary dolichocephaly could be produced in this way, or that a flat pelvis prevailed at any time in Egypt. The figures given by Dr. G. M. Morant from early predynastic to Roman times show no evidence for any progressive rachitic dolicho cephaly. Although owing to the destructibility of the pelvis the evidence is not exhaustive, no flat pelvis has been recorded. The exaggerated female waist found in certain of the Amarna figures is probably due to a ritual dress.