Expert: John Shea - 2/21/2006

Question
As the modern day Greeks are the direct descendents of ancient Greek culture, such as Homer's time; Likewise, are the modern Egyptians the direct genetic/blood descendents of ancients Pharaos, 2000 BC?
Thanks!
Paul


Answer
Dear Paul,
I am at a loss to provide you with references to support this, but it is my understanding that both hypotheses are supported by the genetic and skeletal evidence, -bearing in mind that both regions have undergone some variable degree of immigration and genetic lineage extinction over the last 2000 or so years. People have sometimes questioned the link between ancient peoples and modern populations living in the same region because of perceived differences between what they look like "in the flesh" and artistic self-representation in the archaeological record.  In considering such evidence one has to be aware that all such ancient portraits are subjective impressions.  For example, both the Ancient Greeks and Ancient Egyptians had very formal, stylized ways of rendering the human body.  (Classical Greek sculptures, for example, exaggerated the forehead in a way that is anatomically impossible.)
Cheers,
John Shea