Poliomyelitis in ancient Greece (5th century BC)?

Elena Varotto, Valentino Nizzo, Francesco Galassi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

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 languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)678-679
Number of pages2
JournalNeurology
Volume92
Issue number14
Early online date2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2019

Keywords

  • History of medicine
  • Poliomyelitis
  • Disease in art

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