Did Akhenaten (Akhenaton) Suffer from Marfan syndrome

The author: Professor Yasser Metwally

http://yassermetwally.com

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    While Akhenaten led a reform on the Ancient Egyptian religion, he also revolutionized Egyptian art. He broke the conventions of Egyptian art by showing himself in warm family scenes with his wife and children, and portraying himself and the rest of the royal family in a much more human and naturalistic manner than any of his predescessors had. The most peculiar result of this art reform, however, was the portrayal of the physical characteristics of the pharaoh himself.

Figure 1.  Akhenaten odd appearance

    In sculptures and paintings of Akhenaten, he is shown as having a long, slender neck, a long face with a sharp chin, narrow, almond-shaped eyes, full lips, long arms and fingers, rounded thighs and buttocks, a soft belly, and enlarged breasts. His odd appearance was particularly prominent in art from the early part of the reign. One early statue portrays the king in the nude and without genitalia of any kind.

    These features have puzzled archaeologists since Akhenaten was first discovered in the early nineteenth century, and people have offered many explanations as to why he looked this way.

Figure 1.  Akhenaten odd appearance

    One of the early theories was that Akhenaten was actually a woman disguised as a man, and was following in Queen Hatshepsut’s footsteps, but this idea has been abandoned (Aldred, C., 1988, pg. 231). The theory that is most in favor at this time is that Akhenaten suffered from some kind of illness or syndrome which caused his odd appearance. The two most likely possibilities proposed in recent years are Froehlich’s Syndrome (Aldred, C. 1988, Pg. 232), and Marfan’s Syndrome (Redford, D., 1994), (Burridge, A.,1995). This discussion will examine both disorders in detail.

Froehlich’s Syndrome

    The most popular belief is that Akhenaten suffered from Froehlich’s Syndrome, an endocrine disorder found most commonly in men.

    The endocrine system consists of the glands in the body which produce and release into the bloodstream certain chemicals known as hormones. Hormones regulate various bodily functions, like glucose and insulin levels in the blood, growth, salt metabolism, and sexuality. The main endocrine gland is the pituitary, located in the forebrain. The pituitary gland is divided into two parts: the anterior pituitary, which regulates the activities of the other glands in the system and is also responsible for the release of growth hormone, and the posterior pituitary, which regulates water and salt metabolism. The pituitary is regulated in turn by the hypothalamus, which also regulates hunger and various other biological functions. (Weiten, W., 1995).

    Froehlich’s Syndrome can be caused by a variety things, the most common being a tumor in either the pituitary gland or the hypothalamus (Aldred, C. 1988, Pg. 232), (Brittanica, Vol. 5, 1992, Pg.19).
If Froehlich’s Syndrome occurs as a tumor only in the pituitary gland, then it mainly seems to affect the secondary sex characteristics in men. The secondary sex characteristics include body hair and deepening of the voice. The reason that Froehlich’s Sydrome causes this lack of sexual development is that the gonads or sex glands (the testes, in men) don’t function properly as a result of the impaired functioning of the pituitary. Froehlich’s Syndrome also results in infertility, a lack of sex drive, and feminine fat distribution (Aldred, C. 1988, Pg. 232).

    If Froehlich’s Syndrome occurs as a tumor in the hypothalamus, then hunger metabolism is affected, and obesity occurs (Brittanica, Vol. 5, 1992, Pg. 19). Since the hypothalamus regulates the pituitary gland, it then also has the effect of stunting sexual development. Stunted physical growth occurs in either situation. Diabetes can also occur along with Froehlich’s Syndrome. Sometimes the pituitary will become overactive and cause an overgrown jaw and skull deformities (Aldred, C. 1988, Pg. 232).

    How well does this fit Akhenaten? Overall, not too well. Some of the characteristics associated with Froehlich’s Syndrome seem to fit his apparent peculiarities (such as the feminine figure and the prominent jaw), but many of the main symptoms of the illness do not. Akhenaten, despite the fact that he is shown as a eunuch in some of the artwork from his time, seemed to be quite fertile (we know that he fathered six children, possibly more), did not seem to show stunted physical growth, and was definitely not obese. Another symptom of Froehlich’s is severe mental retardation (Burridge, A., 1995), and it is apparent from literary works by the king that he was not at all retarded.

Therefore, it is unlikely that Akhenaten had Froehlich’s Syndrome, and historians have turned to another option: Marfan’s Syndrome.

Marfan’s Syndrome:

    The most recently suggested possibility for Akhenaten’s supposed pathology is a genetic disorder known as Marfan’s Syndrome. This is a more likely possibility than Froehlich’s Syndrome, as it does not affect intelligence or fertility (Burridge, A., 1995), (Redford, D., 1994).

    Marfan’s Syndrome was first described by a French doctor named Antione B. Marfan, who reported that some of his patients had especially long fingers (he called this arachnodactyly, or spider-fingers), skeletal abnormalities (including arms that were disproportionately long), and high, arched pallets. He also noticed spine defects (Wieczorek, Riegel, & Quattro, 1996).

    Antione noted that these traits seemed to be inherited, and it is now certain that Marfan’s Syndrome is a hereditary disease, and the gene for it is autosomal dominant (Wieczorek, Riegel, & Quattro, 1996).

    A dominant gene is one that will overwrite other genes so that only one is required for the trait that that particular gene carries to be expressed. A person who inherits a dominant gene from one parent will automatically have the trait that the gene produces, unlike with recessive genes in which a gene for the trait must be inherited from each parent for the trait to show. Autosomal means that the gene is on a non-sex chromosome. There are 46 chromosomes in every human cell, and they make 23 pairs, each one connected by a centrome. The 23rd pair consists of the sex chromosomes (American Medical Association, 1993). The gene for Marfan’s Syndrome is located on pair fifteen. This gene causes the occurrence of too many microfibrillar fibers in the connective tissue, which results in a lack of flexibility in the body’s tissues (Wieczorek, Riegel, & Quattro, 1996).

    Marfan’s Syndrome almost always occurs as an inherited trait (about 75 to 85 percent of the time), but it can sometimes show up spontaneously in a person from a family that has never shown any signs of the disorder. Marfan’s Syndrome, because it is dominant, will not skip generations (Wieczorek, Riegel, & Quattro, 1996). (A recessive gene can be passed on without showing up for many generations, because two are needed for the trait to show, but if a dominant gene is going to show up, it will do so right away.) Marfan’s syndrome has a 50% chance of being passed on to the children of an affected person. If the gene for Marfan’s Syndrome is passed on, it will invariably show up, but the degree to which it shows its symptoms varies considerably (Bruckheim, A. H., 1993).

    Skeletal abnormalities that have been noticed in Marfan’s patients are a long face, an unusually tall stature, a short upper body in comparison to the lower body (because they have a short ribcage), and overgrown ribs. The latter results in chest deformities such as Pectus Excavatum (funnel chest) or Pectus Carnatum (pigeon breast). A wide pelvis, elongated skull, and prominent shoulder blades are other symptoms (Burridge, A., 1995). One of the most distinctive characteristics of Marfan’s Syndrome is unusually long arms, fingers, and toes. These skeletal problems can show up in either childhood or adolescence, and sometimes they do not show up at all (Wieczorek, Riegel, & Quattro, 1996). Extremely mobile joints are another common characteristic.

    A good many victims have eye problems, like dislocated lenses, severe nearsightedness, iridodensis (a quivering motion of the iris), cataracts, detaching retinas, and glaucoma (Wieczorek, Riegel, & Quattro, 1996).

    Because of the excessive fibers in the tissues of people with Marfan’s Syndrome, their tissues often stretch to the point of breaking under the strain of normal tissue stress. There are often stretch marks on the skin, as a result of this. When this sort of stretching occurs in the aorta (the major artery that comes out of the heart), it can break, resulting in major complications (Wieczorek, Riegel, & Quattro, 1996). Because of the heart problems, people with Marfan’s Syndrome usually have a short life-span, perhaps of about thirty years (Burridge, A., 1995). People with Marfan’s Syndrome often suffer from various lung problems as well. Most patients show signs of emphysema, and 5% of the people with Marfan’s Syndrome have problems with collapsed lungs (Bruckheim, A. H., 1993).
    Muscle weakness may also occur (Bruckheim, A. H., 1993). This, along with the hypermobile joints, can result in accident proneness.

    Marfan’s victims also show a strong sensitivity to cold (Burridge, A., 1995).

    Some other famous people who have been suggested as having Marfan’s Syndrome are Abraham Lincoln, Sergie Rachmaninoff, Niccolo Paginini, Mary, Queen of Scots, and Flo Hyman (Burridge, A., 1995; Wieczorek, Riegel, & Quattro, 1996).

    From this information, it would seem that Marfan’s Syndrome best suits Akhenaten’s possible affliction. He did show traits like arachnodactyly, an unusually long face, a tall, slender build, and a wide pelvis. His relatives are shown as having similar features, and elongated skulls. The fact that the rest of his family apparently showed some of these traits also suggests that he had a genetic disorder such as Marfan’s Syndrome. He also lived for about the amount of time that a Marfan’s victim lives without medical assistance.

Video 1. Marfan’s Syndrome

Other Theories:

    Did Akhenaten really have any kind of ailment at all? There is certainly a possibility that there was nothing wrong with him. Any conclusions drawn simply from looking at artwork are highly questionable. If historians three thousand years in the future were to come to the same sorts of conclusions from looking at today’s political cartoons, for instance, they would probably think that just about every president or political leader that the U.S. has ever had suffered from some kind of bizarre disorder. A good many people have offered alternative explanations as to why Akhenaten was portrayed so strangely.

    One theory is that it was some form of religious symbolism. Because the god Aten was referred to as “The mother and father of all human kind,” it has been suggested that Akhenaten was made to look androgynous in artwork as a symbol of the androgyny of the god (Aldred, C. 1988, Pg. 235).

It has also been suggested that the distinctive art of this time was some kind of expressionistic art style, and it has been pointed out that everyone depicted in the artwork of the period showed some of the odd features of the king and his family.

    One thing that would suggest that Akhenaten did have an illness of some kind was the fact that he remained hidden for a good portion of his father’s reign. Normally, a great deal of attention would be devoted to the heir to the throne. It should be noted that Akhenaten had an older brother, Tuthmose, who died at an early age. Perhaps if Marfan’s Syndrome did run in the family, Tuthmose’s early death was a result of some of the complications associated with the disease. If this were the case, though, one would have to wonder why Tuthmose was not hidden as well. Perhaps he did not show some of the more visible abnormalities that are sometimes present, such as the skeletal problems. The extent to which various symptoms of the illness show up can vary greatly.

    Before any specific ailments were suggested, some historians speculated that Akhenaten’s possible illness may have somehow accounted for his strange behavior. This is probably not the case, but Akhenaten did call himself “The Unique One of Re,” and it would seem that he used his odd appearance as part of this image.

    No mummy has yet been identified as being that of Akhenaten. Obviously, it would be hard to tell whether he had symptoms like bad eyesight or heart problems, even if his body were to be found. However, the bodies of several of Akhenaten’s known relatives have been found, and a reasonably sure way we would have of finding out whether Akhenaten had Marfan’s Syndrome would be to do genetic testing on his known relatives. If this were to be done, it would provide invaluable information about Akhenaten and his family.

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References.

1- Encyclopedia Brittanica, Inc. Fröhlich’s Syndrome Encyclopedia Britannica Vol. 5, 15th ed. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 1992
Aldred, C. 1988. Akhenaten, King of Egypt. Thames and Hudson, Ltd.,
London.
2- Brukheim, H., 1993. Marfan’s Syndrome, Art. # 27, The Family Doctor Comp. Software. J. D. Grillo, pub.
3- Burridge, A., Did Akhenaten Suffer From Marfan’s Syndrome? Akhenaten Temple Project Newsletter No. 3, Sept. 1995
4- Clayman, C., ed. , 1993. American Med. Association: Genes and
Inheritance The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc., NY & Montreal (from AMA Medical Home Library series)
5- Wagman, R., ed. , 1992. Vol. 2 of The New Complete Medical and Health Encyclopedia , 4 Vols. J. G. Furguson Pub. Co., Chicago
6- Wieczoreck, P., Reigel, M. B., & Quattro, L., 1996. Marfan’s Syndrome and Surgical Repair of Ascending Aortic Aneurysms. AORN Journal. 64(6)
7- Wieten, W., 1995. Psychology: Themes and Variations 3rd ed. Brook/Cole Publishing

The Egyptian dynasties

The author: Professor Yasser Metwally

http://yassermetwally.com

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Video 1.  Egyptians had an elaborate method and ritual of mummifying a Pharaoh

PREDYNASTIC EGYPT
NARMER – THE SCORPION KING

EARLY DYNASTIC PERIOD

THE FIRST DYNASTY – 3050 – 2890 B.C.
Menes – AHA
Djer
Wadj
Den – Udimu
Anedjob
Semerkat
Qa’a

SECOND DYNASTY – 3890-2686 B.C.
Hetepsekhemwy
Reneb
Ninetjer
Peribsen – Sekhemib
Keasekhemwy

Video 2.  Do you want to travel in space? Before travelling, you must see this video…History is the gate of dreams, is the gate of space.

THE OLD KINGDOM – AGE OF THE PYRAMIDS

THIRD DYNASTY – 2650 – 2575 B.C.
Sanakhte (Nebka) 2650 – 2630
Djoser – Netjerykhet 2630 – 2611
Sekhemkhet (Djoser Teti) 2611 – 2603
Khaba 2603 – 2599
Huni 2599 – 2575

FOURTH DYNASTY – 2575 – 2467 B.C.
Snefru 2575 – 2551
Khufu (Cheops) 2551 – 2528
Djedefre 2528 – 2520
Khafre (Chephren) 2520 – 2494
Menkaure (Mycerinus) 2490 – 2472
Shepseskaf 2472 – 2467

FIFTH DYNASTY – 2465 – 2345 B.C.
Userkaf 2465 – 2458
Sahure 2458 – 2446
Neferirkare Kakai 2477-2467
Shepseskare Ini 2426 – 2419
Neferefre 2419 – 2416
Niuserre Izi 2453 – 2422
Menkauhor 2422 – 2414
Djedkare Izezi 2388 – 2356
Unas 2375-2345

SIXTH DYNASTY – 2345 – 2184 B.C.
Teti 2345 – 2333
Pepy I (Meryre) 2332 – 2283
Merenre Nemtyemzaf 2283 2278
Pepy II (Neferkare) 2278 – 2184

Video 3. History of Ancient Egypt 3000 B.C.

FIRST INTERMEDIATE PERIOD

SEVENTH – TENTH DYNASTIES – 2150 – 1986 B.C.

SEVENTH & EIGHTH DYNASTIES
Netrikare
Menkare
Neferkare II
Neferkare III
Djedkare II
Neferkare IV
Merenhor
Menkamin I
Nikare
Neferkare V
Neferkahor
Neferkare VI
Neferkamin II
Ibi I
Neferkaure
Neferkauhor
Neferirkare II
Wadjkare
Sekhemkare
Iti
Imhotep
Isu
Iytenu

NINETH & TENTH DYNASTIES
Neferkare
several kings named Kheti
Meri-Hathor (?)
Merikare

MIDDLE KINGDOM

ELEVENTH DYNASTY
Antef I
Antef II
Antef III
Mentuhotep II 2055 -2004
Mentuhotep III (Sankhkare) 2004 – 1992
Mentuhotep IV (Nebtawyre) 1992 – 1987

TWELFTH DYNASTIES
Amenemhet I (Sehetepibre) 1991 – 1962
Senusret I (Kheperkare) 1956 – 1911
Amenemhet II (Nubkaure) 1911 – 1877
Senusret II (Khakheperre) 1877 – 1870
Senusret III (Khakaure) 1836 – 1817
Amenemhet III (Nimaatre) 1817 – 1772
Amenemhet IV (Maakherure) 1772 – 1763
Neferusobek (Sobekkare) 1763 – 1759

SECOND INTERMEDIATE PERIOD

THIRTEENTH – SEVENTEENTH DYNASTIES

THIRTEENTH DYNASTY
Wegaf 1783-1779
Amenemhat-senebef
Sekhemre-khutawi
Amenemhat V
Sehetepibre I
Iufni
Amenemhat VI
Semenkare
Sehetepibre II
Sewadjkare
Nedjemibre
Sobekhotep I
Reniseneb
Hor I
Amenemhat VII
Sobekhotep II
Khendjer
Imira-mesha
Antef IV
Seth
Sobekhotep III
Neferhotep I 1696 – 1686
Sihathor 1685 – 1685
Sobekhotep IV 1685 – 1678
Sobekhotep V 1678 – 1674
Iaib 1674 – 1664
Ay 1664 – 1641
Ini I
Sewadjtu
Ined
Hori
Sobekhotep VI
Dedumes I
Ibi II
Hor II
Senebmiu
Sekhanre I
Merkheperre
Merikare

FOURTEENTH DYNASTY
Nehesi
Khatire
Nebfaure
Sehabre
Meridjefare
Sewadjkare
Heribre
Sankhibre
Kanefertemre
Neferibre
Ankhkare

FIFTEENTH DYNASTY
Salitis
Bnon
Apachnan (Khian)
Apophis (Auserre Apepi)
Khamudi

SIXTEENTH DYNASTY
Anat-Her
User-anat
Semqen
Zaket
Wasa
Qar
Pepi III
Bebankh
Nebmaatre
Nikare II
Aahotepre
Aaneterire
Nubankhre
Nubuserre
Khauserre
Khamure
Jacob-Baal
Yakbam
Yoam
Amu

SEVENTEENTH DYNASTY
Antef V
Rahotep
Sobekemzaf I
Djehuti
Mentuhotep VII
Nebirau I
Nebirau II
Semenenre
Suserenre
Sobekemzaf II
Antef VI
Antef VII
Tao I (Senakhtenre)
Tao II (Sekenenre)
Kamose (Wadjkheperre)

THE NEW KINGDOM

EIGHTEENTH DYNASTY
Ahmose (Nebpehtyre) 1539 – 1514 BC
Amenhotep I (Djeserkare) 1514 – 1493 BC
Thutmose I (Akheperkare) 1493 – 1481 BC
Thutmose II (Akheperenre) 1491 – 1479 BC
Hatshepsut (Maatkare) 1473 – 1458 BC
Thutmose III (Menkheperre) 1504 – 1450 BC
Amenhotep II (Akheperure) 1427 – 1392 BC
Thutmose IV (Menkheperure) 1419 – 1386 BC
Amenhotep III (Nebmaatre) 1382 – 1344 BC
Amenhotep IV / Akhenaten 1350 – 1334 BC
Smenkhkare (Ankhkheperure) 1336-1334 BC
Tutankhamun (Nebkheperure) 1334 – 1325 – King Tut BC
Ay (Kheperkheperure) 1325 – 1321 BC
Horemheb (Djeserkheperure) 1323 – 1295 BC

NINETEENTH DYNASTY
Ramesses I (Menpehtyre) 1295 – 1294
Seti I (Menmaatre) 1394 – 1279
Ramesses II (Usermaatresetepenre) 1279 – 1213
Merenptah (Baenrehotephirmaat) 1213 – 1203
Amenmesse (Menmire) 1203 – 1200
Seti II (Userkheperuresetepenre) 1200 – 1194
Siptah (Akhenresetepenre) 1194 – 1188
Tausert (Sitremeritamun) 1185-1187

TWENTIETH DYNASTY
Setakht (Userkhauremeryamun) 1186 – 1184
Ramesses III (Usermaatremeryamun) 1184 – 1153
Ramesses IV (Hekamaatresetepenamun) 1153 – 1147
Ramesses V (Usermaatresekheperenre) 1147 – 1143
Ramesses VI (Nebmaatremeryamun) 1143 – 1136
Ramesses VII (Usermaatresetepenre) 1136 – 1129
Ramesses VIII (Usermaatreakhenamun) 1129 – 1126
Ramesses IX (Neferkaresetepenre) 1126 – 1108
Ramesses X (Khepermaatresetepenre) 1108 – 1099
Ramesses XI (Menmaatresetepenptah) 1099 – 1069

THIRD INTERMEDIATE PERIOD (1070-715 BC)

TWENTY-FIRST – TWENTY-FOURTH DYNASTIES

TWENTY-FIRST DYNASTY
Smedes 1070-1044
Amenemnisu 1040
Psusennes I 1040-992
Amenope 993-984
Osochor 984-978
Siamun 978-959
Psusennes II 959-945

TWENTY-SECOND DYNASTY
Shoshenq I 945-924
Osorkon I 924-909
Takelot 909–?
Shoshenq II ?–883
Osorkon II 883-855
Takelot II 860-835
Shoshenq III 835-783
Pami 783-773
Shoshenq IV 773-735
Osorkon IV 735-712

TWENTY-THIRD DYNASTY
Pedubaste I 828-803
Osorkon IV 777-749
Peftjauwybast 740-725

TWENTY-FOURTH DYNASTY
Shepsesre Tefnakht I 725-720 Wahkare Bakenranef 720-715

LATE KINGDOM

TWENTY-FIFTH DYNASTY
Piye 747-716 BC
Shebaka 712-698
Shebitku 698-690
Taharqa 690-664
Tantamani 664-657

TWENTY-SIXTH DYNASTY
Psammetichus I (Psam-tik) 664-610
Nekau (Necho) II 610-595
Psammetichus II 595-589
Apries 589-570
Amasis 570-526
Psammetichus III 526-525

TWENTY-SEVENTH DYNASTY
Cambyses 525-522
Darius I 521-486
Xerxes I 486-466
Artaxerxes I 465-424
Darius II 424-404

TWENTY-EIGHTH DYNASTY
Amyrtaios 404-399

TWENTY-NINETH DYNASTY
Nepherites I 399-393
Psammuthis 393
Hakoris 393-380
Nepherites II 380

THIRTIETH DYNASTY
Nectanebo I 380-362
Teos 365-360
Nectanebo II 360-343

SECOND PERSIAN PERIOD (343-332 B.C.)

THIRTY-FIRST DYNASTY
Ochus (Artaxerxes III) 343-338
Arses 338-336
Darius III Codomannus 335-332

Video 4. History of Egypt

GRECO-ROMAN PERIOD (332 B.C. – 395 A.D.)

Macedonian Kings – Alexandria
Alexander the Great 332-323
Philip Arrhidaeus 323-316
Alexander IV 316-304

Ptolemaic Dynasty
Ptolemy I Soter I 323-285
Ptolemy II Philadelphus 282-246
Ptolemy III Euergeter I 246-222
Ptolemy IV Philopator 222-205
Ptolemy V Epiphanes 205-180
Ptolemy VI Philometor 180-164 & 163-145
Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator 145
Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II 170-163 & 145-116
Cleopatra III & Ptolemy IX Soter II 116-107 & 88-80
Cleopatra III & Ptolemy X Alexander I 107-88
Cleopatra Berenice 81-80
Ptolemy XI Alexander II 80
Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos 80-58 & 55-51
Berenice IV 58-55

Cleopatra VII
Cleopatra VII & Ptolemy XIII 51-47
Cleopatra & Ptolemy XIV 47-44
Cleopatra VII & Ptolemy XV Cesarion 44-30

Roman Emperors
Augustus 30 B.C. – 14 A.D.
Tiberius 14-37
Gaius Caligula 37-41
Claudius 41-54
Nero 54-68
Galba 68-69
Vespasianus 69-79
Titus 79-81
Domitianus 81-96
Nerva 96-98
Trajanus 98-117
Hadrianus 117-138
Antoninus Pius 138-161
Marcus Aurelius 161-180
Lucius Verrus
Commodus 180-192
Septimus Severus 193-211
Caracalla 198-217
Geta 209-212

Video 5.  History of Egypt

Video 6.  History of Egypt