Homocystinuria, a possible solution of the Akhenaten's mystery

Scientific paper - Original scientific paper

• Title (croatian): Homocistinurija, moguće rješenje Ehnatove tajne
• Author: Mislav Čavka
• Author: Tomislav Kelava
• Author: Vlatka Čavka
• Author: Željko Bušić
• Author: Boris Olujić
• Author: Boris Brkljačić
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Clinical Medical Sciences

Abstract (english)

Pharaoh Amenophis IV (Amenhotep IV), also known as Akhenaten, is the most mysterious person in Egyptian history and he still remains the object of academic argues. This revolutionary king introduced a new concept in Egyptian religion and arts. It is still unexplained if images of him and his family were just an artistic outbreak from old Egyptian canon or an excellent paleopathological study. Several pathologic conditions were proposed to explain his appearance but neither is completely acceptable. We propose a different disease that he could have suffered of: homocystinuria – lack of cysthationine-synthase. Our conclusion is that in comparison with up to date most convincing theory, that he was suffering of Marfan syndrome, our theory equally well explains his physical appearance but is better in explaining affecting and unaffecting of his relatives. This is the only theory about Akhenaten’s disease that could be checked in the near future.

Abstract (croatian)

Faraon Amenofis IV. (Amenhotep IV.), poznatiji kao Ehnaton, najtajnovitija je osoba u egipatskoj povijesti. Ovaj revolucionarni vladar 18. dinastije proveo je vjersku revoluciju i postavio nove standarde u umjetnosti. Ostaje nejasno je li groteskni prikaz njega i njegove obitelji samo umjetnički odmak od staroegipatskog kanona ili vrhunski paleopatološki priručnik. Da bi se objasnio njegov izgled, dosad je predloženo nekoliko bolesti od kojih je mogao bolovati, ali ni jedna nije u potpunosti prihvatljiva. Mi predlažemo novu bolest; homocistinuriju – manjak cistationin-sintaze. Zaključujemo da u usporedbi sa dosad najboljom teorijom – da je Ehnaton bolovao od Marfanovog sindroma, naša teorija jednako dobro objašnjava njegov izgled, ali bolje objašnjava zahvaćenost odnosno nezahvaćenost njegovih rođaka. Ovo je jedina teorija o Ehnatonovoj bolesti koja bi mogla biti provjerena u bliskoj budućnosti.

• Keywords (english): Egypt; Famous Persons; History, Ancient; Homocystinuria/genetics; Homocystinuria/history; Humans; Paleopathology
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Original scientific paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: Collegium Antropologicum
• Numbering: vol. 34, no. S. 1, pp. 255-258
• p-ISSN: 0350-6134
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:105:114830
• Publication: 2010-03
• Document URL: https://hrcak.srce.hr/51774
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2024-03-28 11:44:22