Kozma Chahira
Department of Pediatrics, Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia 20007, USA.
Am J Med Genet A. 2008 Dec 1;146A(23):3104-12. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.32501.
The ancient Egyptian civilization lasted for over 3000 years and ended in 30 BCE. Many aspects of ancient Egyptian culture, including the existence of skeletal dysplasias, and in particular achondroplasia, are well known through the monuments and records that survived until modern times. The hot and dry climate in Egypt allowed for the preservation of bodies and skeletal anomalies. The oldest dwarf skeleton, the Badarian skeleton (4500 BCE), possibly represents an epiphyseal disorder. Among the remains of dwarfs with achondroplasia from ancient Egypt (2686-2190 BCE), exists a skeleton of a pregnant female, believed to have died during delivery with a baby's remains in situ. British museums have partial skeletons of dwarfs with achondroplasia, humeri probably affected with mucopolysaccharidoses, and a skeleton of a child with osteogenesis imperfecta. Skeletal dysplasia is also found among royal remains. The mummy of the pharaoh Siptah (1342-1197 BCE) shows a deformity of the left leg and foot. A mummified fetus, believed to be the daughter of king Tutankhamun, has scoliosis, spina bifida, and Sprengel deformity. In 2006 I reviewed the previously existing knowledge of dwarfism in ancient Egypt. The purpose of this second historical review is to add to that knowledge with an expanded contribution. The artistic documentation of people with skeletal dysplasia from ancient Egypt is plentiful including hundreds of amulets, statues, and drawing on tomb and temple walls. Examination of artistic reliefs provides a glance of the role of people with skeletal dysplasia and the societal attitudes toward them. Both artistic evidence and moral teachings in ancient Egypt reveal wide integration of individuals with disabilities into the society.
古埃及文明延续了3000多年，于公元前30年结束。通过留存至今的古迹和记录，古埃及文化的许多方面，包括骨骼发育异常的存在，尤其是软骨发育不全，已广为人知。埃及炎热干燥的气候有利于尸体和骨骼异常的保存。最古老的侏儒骨骼——巴达里骨骼（公元前4500年），可能代表一种骨骺疾病。在古埃及（公元前2686 - 2190年）患有软骨发育不全的侏儒遗骸中，有一具怀孕女性的骨骼，据信她在分娩时死亡，婴儿的遗骸仍在原位。英国博物馆收藏了患有软骨发育不全的侏儒的部分骨骼、可能患有黏多糖贮积症的肱骨，以及一名患有成骨不全症儿童的骨骼。在王室遗骸中也发现了骨骼发育异常。法老西普塔（公元前1342 - 1197年）的木乃伊显示左腿和脚部有畸形。一具被认为是图坦卡蒙国王女儿的木乃伊胎儿有脊柱侧弯、脊柱裂和先天性高肩胛症。2006年，我回顾了此前关于古埃及侏儒症的已有知识。这次第二次历史回顾的目的是通过更广泛的贡献来丰富这一知识。古埃及骨骼发育异常者的艺术记录丰富，包括数百件护身符、雕像以及陵墓和寺庙墙壁上的绘画。对艺术浮雕的审视让人得以一瞥骨骼发育异常者的角色以及社会对他们的态度。古埃及的艺术证据和道德教义都表明，残疾人已广泛融入社会。
