Original scientific paper

Homocystinuria, a Possible Solution of the Akhenaten’s Mystery

Mislav Čavka ; Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Dubrava, Zagreb, Croatia
Tomislav Kelava ; Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Vlatka Čavka ; Department of Dermatology and Venereology, University Hospital »Sestre milosrdnice«, Zagreb, Croatia
Željko Bušić ; Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Boris Olujić ; Department of History, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Boris Brkljačić ; Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Dubrava, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

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.

Keywords

Egypt; history of medicine; Akhenaten; ancient history; pharaoh; homocystinuria

Hrčak ID:

51774

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/51774

Publication date:

25.3.2010.

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