Do n’t let anyone tell you that the modern dieting is significantly worsened than the diets of ancient populations . Apparently , even the wealthiest of our ancestor could ’ve been otiose and fatten up too .
The clay of a 2,200 - twelvemonth - old non-Christian priest went up on display for the first time at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem on Tuesday , and examination of the mummy via a CT scan find oneself that the man , known as Iret - hor - iru , or the “ Protective Eye of Horus , ” was afflict with complaint such as cavities and clogged arterial blood vessel , things that are more common in our current high society .
Thanks to the mummification procedure , research worker found the remains of the man , nicknamed “ Alex , ” to be relatively intact . Exhibit conservator Galit Bennett told theAssociated Pressthat the man was afflicted with osteoporosis and recede gums as well , signs that he hold up a sedentary lifestyle filled with carbohydrate . The exam also indicate that he deflect manual toil and exposure to the Dominicus . So , he was your typical couch potato — minus the wealth that comes with inhabit in upper class Egyptian society .
“ Osteoporosis is a disease that is characteristic of the 20th one C , when people do n’t work so firmly . We are paste to projection screen , ” said Bennett . “ We were very surprised that there were masses who did n’t do physical work and that it affected their bodies like this man here . ”
This would come as no surprisal for those familiar with the history of body image . consort to ancient sculptures , excessiveness of weightused to be a signof wealth and wellness . Since food was more scarce , blubber was desirable . In Europe , weight implied that you lived a living of sumptuousness , and did n’t have to enter in manual or heavy labor . It seems that same thought process could ’ve utilize to ancient Egypt as well .
And consort toNPR , Alex was n’t alone in these affliction . A2013 examinationof 137 mummies from around the macrocosm published in The Lancet discover that 34 percent of them hurt from cardiovascular disease . Evenstudiessurrounding bodies ground in a cave on Kagamil Island near Alaska found that heart disease was common , even among people that exercise ( or moved around a lot for selection ) and were n’t subject to modern edible joy .
“ Although usually assumed to be a modern disease , the presence of atherosclerosis in pre - mod human beings elevate the possible action of a more introductory predisposition to the disease , ” the generator of the 2013 paper noted .
[ NPRviaThe Times of Israel ]
Ancient EgyptArchaeologyHealthmummies
Daily Newsletter
Get the serious tech , science , and culture newsworthiness in your inbox day by day .
News from the future , delivered to your present .
You May Also Like
