A 4700-Year-Old Egyptian Pharaoh Is World's Oldest Case of Gigantism
Oldest Known Gigantism
In 2017, researchers unearthed the oldest case of gigantism to date in Egypt. Francesco M. Galassi, from the University of Zurich, and his colleagues analyzed the alleged remains of Pharoah Sanakht, a little-known monarch near Beit Khallaf, Newsweek reported. On examination, the experts concluded that the remains belonged to an individual who had gigantism. If the team's assertions are true, this becomes the oldest case of gigantism in human history, known to this date. The findings by the researchers have been published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.
Pharoah Sanakht
Researchers assume that the remains belonged to Sanakht because the relief fragments near the tomb carried his name, Newsweek reported. Sanakht ruled during ancient Egypt's third dynasty, around 4,700 years ago. Not much has been written about Sanakht in historical records. This is the first time researchers have found evidence regarding his physical features. As per records, royalty in Egypt was usually taller than the general population, but if the discovered remains are of Sanakht, the difference in height in this case is larger.
Remains Found in the Tomb
The skeleton remains were unearthed in a previous expedition in 1901, Live Science reported. As part of ongoing research, mummies experts from the University of Zurich decided to examine the remains. After analysis, researchers stated that the man in the tomb must have stood around 187cm, or 6 feet 1 inch tall. The average height of Egyptians during that time was 5 feet 6 inches. In the study, the team claims that the man in the tomb suffered from Gigantism, a hormonal condition that causes excessive growth.
Analysis of the Remains
The research team considered different measurements of Sanakht's skull and compared them with data from anthropological databases, Newsweek reported. This methodology was applied to analyze if the man in the tomb exhibited gigantism. Michael Habicht, an Egyptologist, and part of the study, stated that the long bones were a clear indication of gigantism, Live Science reported. This is the first time, gigantism has been detected in an ancient skeleton related to royalty or elite classes. "From all known royal mummies, no other king or queen fulfills the requirement of gigantism," the team wrote, Newsweek reported.
A Man of the Elite Class
The researchers did assume the social implications the man buried in the tomb might have had to face because of his condition. Experts believe that the remains even if not of Sanakht, it did belong to a man from the elite class. They have reached this conclusion, seeing the burial arrangement. The organization of the tomb, also indicates that the man was not socially isolated because of his condition. "The fact that he was buried with honors in an elite mastaba-tomb, after reaching adulthood, suggests that gigantism at the time was probably not associated with social marginalization," the study explained. This assertion aligns with what researchers already know about Egyptian society that it gave preference to people who looked distinct.