Mar 10, 2023

203: The Roman Giant

The unusual skeleton was found in 1991 during an excavation at a necropolis in Fidenae north of Rome, a territory indirectly managed by Rome.

Growth disorders can also be due to a deficit of development of the sexual organs before puberty, as in Eunuchoid Gigantism (eunuchs are castrated males); it is characterized by a disproportionate increase in the length of the lower compared to the upper limbs (Aegerter & Kirkopatrick, 1975). Tall stature associated with male hypogonadism can also be due to Klinefelter’s syndrome caused by a chromosomal defect (Aufderheide & Rodrìguez-Martìn, 1998). Growth disorders also depend on cerebral gigantism associated with the so-called Sotos syndrome, in which the circulating levels of hGH are normal; children who are affected present accelerated growth during the first two or three years (Melo et al., 2002). Growth increase and tall stature can also be due to Marfan’s syndrome, a genetic disease affecting the connective tissue, causing overgrowth of the lower with respect to the upper limbs, with very slim diaphyses (Goodman & Gorlin, 1983).

The skeletal remains examined in this research were found in 1991. At 6ft 8" (202 centimeters) tall, the man would have been a giant in third-century Rome, where men averaged about 5 and a half feet (167 centimeters) tall.

The small cemetery probably refers to a community living and working on one of the hundreds of farms (villae) documented in this sector of the Roman ager (di Gennaro et al., 2005). A total of 31 tombs were excavated, and the skeletal remains of 28 individuals were recovered. A tomb (T.30) longer than the others was found (2.6 m), and the skeletal remains appeared to be those of a very tall individual (Pantano et al., 2011). Tomb 30 belongs to a group of simple fossa graves (originally covered with pottery roof tiles) that seems to have been prepared and used during the first half of the 3rd century. The individual was buried in supine posture with the hands placed under his pelvis, with no funerary goods. The skeleton was complete and in good condition, but the skull was fragmented.

The findings present a lot of mights and maybes. The paper talks of bowleggedness, yet the bones are straighter than normal. So is the one we have from a 9f) 7'11" or (m) 8'2". The shaft is straighter than you'd expect. Its to do with the mechanical axis being from hip to foot, rather than hip to knee. If our individual was bowlegged it could be as a result of an disease, such as Blount's disease or rickets, or genetics, and can lead to arthritis in the knees and hips.

Klinefelter’s syndrome can be ruled out. Cerebral gigantism associated with the so-called Sotos syndrome induces a rapid growth during the first years of life with significant increase in head circumference and delayed psychomotor development (Melo et al., 2002), while Marfan’s syndrome induces overgrowth of the lower compared to the upper limbs. These characteristics were not found in this case study.

Pituitary gigantism and acromegaly are the most common etiology of overgrowth disorder, caused by overproduction of the growth hormone (hGH), associated with a dysfunction of the pituitary gland. Gigantism is a very rare condition. Overproduction of the growth hormone (hGH) during adulthood results in acromegaly, a more common condition than gigantism, causing overgrowth of the facial bones, mandible, ribs, sternum, intervertebral discs, and marked periosteal bone apposition. Hyperpituitarism is often caused by a pituitary adenoma, resulting in body overgrowth with normal proportions.

The lifespan of people affected by gigantism is not high; in fact, several diseases may be associated with this disorder such as chronic complications dominated by cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases

The above shows a large bone - but still smaller than ours.

Another Giant from Egypt

And what about King Sa Nakht, who ruled during Egypt's third dynasty. His remains are believed to represent the oldest case of gigantism ever found (publically) —indicating the condition was not associated with social isolation as many have said a giant or race of giants must be.