Artistic Evidence of Inflammatory
Arthopathy from Ancient Scythia
Charles W. Denko, Joanne D. Denko, and Charles J. Malemud
A gold vessel recovered from a Scythian burial ground was on display at the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, depicting a patient being examined by a physician or shaman. The physical appearance of the patient appeared to be consistent with an inflammatory arthropathy of the knee, ankle, finger, elbow and mid-foot. This artistic portrayal suggested that a form of inflammatory arthopathy existed in ancient Scythia.
