Ancient Greek warrior X-rayed in Long Island

posted on 2013-05-26
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Professor Anagnostis Agelarakis, Argie Agelarakis (R) and Helise Coopersmith examine the remains of an ancient Greek warrior
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The remains of a Greek warrior from 4th century B.C. are being examined by Anagnostis Agelarakis, a noted professor of Anthropology at Adelphi University. He brought the remains, which are on loan from the Greek Archaeological Service in Athens,  to North Shore Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park last week.
“This is more rare than finding a diamond,” Agelarakis told the local Long Island Press. He is studying ancient surgical practices during battle.  
 
The warrior was probably wounded in the time of Philip the Second, father of Alexander the Great. The warrior has a bronze arrowhead stuck in his left forearm. 
 
“The X-ray proved the barbed component of the arrowhead that could not have been seen with the naked eye,” Dr. Helise Coopersmith, a radiologist from North Shore- LIJ, said. 
 
It is believed the warrior lived with the arrowhead until the age of 58 to 62 years causing him pain similar to severe carpal tunnel.  
 
“It is quite amazing to think that this soldier not only endured this procedure without anesthesia, but he also lived many more years,” Agelarakis said to the local Times Ledger. “This disabled vet survived to around 60 years old with this painful injury.”
 
The professor said a wound of this kind is an extremely rare find in the world of anthropology.
 
“This is more rare than finding a diamond,” he said. “Many hundreds of Greek warriors have been excavated and this is the first time a wound like this has been observed.”
 
Anagnostis' wife, Argie Agelarakis, a professor of technical drawing and archeological science illustration, carried out the facial reconstruction with the help of her students.
 

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