In a discovery that intertwines archaeology, art history, and medicine, a 2nd-century AD bronze figurine unearthed in Bracara Augusta, now Braga in northern Portugal, may provide evidence of a rare genetic condition known as Crouzon syndrome.

The figurine, recovered during archaeological excavations on Mount Cividade, exhibits intriguing facial features, including exophthalmos (protruding eyes), exotropia (eye deviation), and facial asymmetry. These peculiarities led researchers to employ the technique of iconodiagnosis, which uses art to identify possible past medical conditions.

The suggested diagnosis is Crouzon syndrome, a form of craniofacial dysostosis. This genetic disorder, caused by a mutation, results in the premature closure of cranial sutures and facial deformities.

Roman bronze statuette found in Braga, Portugal
Front and rear view of the statuette. Credit: Manuel Santos / Museu de Arqueologia D. Diogo de Sousa

Although this syndrome was unknown to ancient physicians, art allows us to glimpse how such conditions affected individuals and their cultural representations. The anatomical precision of the details in the Bracara Augusta figurine demonstrates the artist’s remarkable technical skill and fidelity to their model.

The figure wears a mural crown, a traditional symbol of the patron goddesses of Greco-Roman cities, such as Tyche in Greek tradition and Fortuna in Roman culture. These deities, associated with prosperity, fertility, and well-being, were typically depicted with a cornucopia, an emblem of abundance. However, this figurine holds a snake coiled around a staff, an attribute more commonly associated with health deities, such as Asclepius and his daughter Hygieia.

The association of the figurine with the goddess Salus, the Roman equivalent of Hygieia, suggests a connection to health and communal protection cults in Bracara Augusta. This link is reinforced by the discovery of a votive pedestal dedicated to Asclepius and Hygieia in the same region.

Roman bronze statuette found in Braga, Portugal
Side view of the statuette. Credit: Manuel Santos / Museu de Arqueologia D. Diogo de Sousa

In contrast to the typical depictions of divine patrons as idealized figures of beauty and perfection, this figurine stands out for its unusual features and a facial expression perceived as sorrowful. This raises questions about the social and religious role of the represented figure. Researchers suggest it might depict a priestess, possibly chosen for her physical characteristics under the influence of shamanic traditions that viewed deformities as divine marks.

The discovery of this figurine has significant implications for paleopathology, the study of diseases in ancient remains. Although rare, historical cases of Crouzon syndrome have been documented, such as in descriptions of Pharaoh Tutankhamun or Pericles, the Athenian statesman. However, this figurine is unique within the Greco-Roman context, marking the first time this condition has been hypothesized in a work of art from this era.

According to Joseph Warkany, a pioneer in the study of congenital malformations, these artistic representations reflect human reactions to inexplicable phenomena. The Bracara Augusta figurine stands out as an exceptional example of how art can serve as an invaluable resource for the history of medicine, offering a window into the lives and challenges of people in antiquity.


SOURCES

Maria do Sameiro Barroso, A possible case of Crouzon syndrome in a female figurine from Bracara Augusta from the 2nd century CE. Antropología Portuguesa, no.41 (2024). DOI: doi.org/10.14195/2182-7982_41_2


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