Wall paintings facies and their possible genetic correlates in the ancient Pompeii: A bio-anthropologic message from the past?

Gene. 2016 Sep 10;589(2):151-6. doi: 10.1016/j.gene.2016.04.038. Epub 2016 Apr 20.

Abstract

The figurative arts and precisely the ancient Pompeian wall paintings portraits can provide an additional source of information in supplementing bio-anthropological studies. There are several genetic diseases with a wide spectrum of congenital bone stigmata in association to distinctive facial features. Gorlin-Goltz syndrome, also named nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome, is an autosomal dominant syndrome characterized by unusual skeletal changes, such as macrocephaly, facial asymmetry, hypertelorism, frontal and parietal bossing caused by germline mutations of the gene PTCH1. The Gorlin syndrome, clinically defined in 1963, existed during Dynastic Egyptian times, as revealed by a spectrum of skeletal findings compatible with the syndrome in mummies dating back to three thousand years ago and, most likely, in the ancient population of Pompeii. In the present research, we discuss the potential relationship between Pompeian wall paintings portrait and the cranio-metric bone changes revealed among the Pompeian skull collections assuming that the ancient portraits can constitute an important tool that should be strictly integrated with osteologic and biomolecular data in order to argue a syndromic diagnosis in ancient population.

Keywords: Gorlin–Goltz syndrome; NBCCS; NBCCS history; PTCH1; Pompeii; Skeletal anomalies; Wall paintings portrait.

Publication types

  • Historical Article
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anthropology, Medical
  • Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome / epidemiology
  • Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome / genetics*
  • Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome / history*
  • Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome / pathology
  • Bone and Bones / pathology*
  • Egypt, Ancient / epidemiology
  • Facies*
  • Gene Expression
  • Genes, Dominant
  • Germ-Line Mutation*
  • Greece, Ancient / epidemiology
  • History, Ancient
  • Humans
  • Mummies / diagnostic imaging
  • Mummies / history
  • Paintings / history*
  • Patched-1 Receptor / genetics*
  • Prevalence
  • Rome / epidemiology

Substances

  • PTCH1 protein, human
  • Patched-1 Receptor