Abstract
The antiquity of poliomyelitis is disputed, since only inconclusive evidence has been adduced for the Ancient World so far.1 A ca 480 BC Attic peliké vase imported into Etruria (ancient Central Italy) depicting the mythical rendezvous between Heracles and Geras (figure, A) shows the latter (figure, B), the personification of Old Age, helping himself with a stick. The high degree of realism of this artwork, emerging in this historical period, allows one to identify extensive lower limb muscular atrophy and an unnatural eye-catching kyphoscoliotic spinal deformity. While previously considered—prudently yet perhaps too hurriedly—but a depiction of senile emaciation and pulmonary emphysema,2 the characteristically vivid clinical association leads us to hypothesize that Geras' anatomical features are compatible with those of a polio survivor exhibiting the incapacitating and long-term outcomes of the spinal form of paralytic poliomyelitis.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 678-679 |
Number of pages | 2 |
Journal | Neurology |
Volume | 92 |
Issue number | 14 |
Early online date | 2019 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Apr 2019 |
Keywords
- History of medicine
- Poliomyelitis
- Disease in art