One compelling example is the analysis by neurologist Temple Fay (1895–1963) concerning a controversial ancient Greek portrait, commonly identified as Menander, which Fay suggested depicted hemiplegia.
Menander (342–291 BCE), the celebrated Athenian playwright, was depicted in several marble sculptures displaying remarkable realism and sensitivity. In a detailed study published in 1939, Temple Fay examined a sculpture known as "The Head," noting distinctive asymmetrical features that closely resembled neurological deficits observed in modern patients with hemiplegia, specifically those resulting from early-life brain injuries such as cerebral palsy.
Fay highlighted pronounced facial asymmetry, including underdeveloped bone structure on the right side of the face, a recessed right eye, lower positioning of the right ear, and overall smaller proportions on the right side. These clinical observations, supported by comparative photographic analyses of mirrored facial halves, convinced Fay that the individual portrayed had experienced a significant neurological event, most likely during early childhood. Such an event, Fay proposed, would explain not only the facial asymmetry but also likely affect the subject’s speech and motor functions.
This interpretation, while still debated by art historians due to uncertainties surrounding the sculpture's true identity (alternatively suggested to depict Virgil or other historical figures), has significantly enriched scholarly discourse. Fay’s interdisciplinary approach underscores how careful medical analysis can shed new light on historical art, encouraging both neurologists and archaeologists to collaborate in exploring the human condition through diverse lenses.
Fay, Temple, Benson, Jack L. and Post, L. Arnold. "“The Head” – Menander." Expedition Magazine 1, no. 4 (July, 1959): -. Accessed April 29, 2025. https://www.penn.museum/sites/expedition/the-head-a-neurosurgeons-analysis-of-a-great-stone-portrait/
