audiobook Akhenaten: The Heretic Pharaoh by Brien Foerster in History

Review

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. a Refreshing Viewpoin with a depth of detail I have not found anywhere elseBy LizardhavenI read this book first; as I was in a place in my own book where I needed to see all I could about the elongated heads of anyone at whatever time or place to try to chart the population genetics of head shape inheritance.Population genetics depends on numbers; and so very few conehead people are shown or described with details of familial relationships; this may seem t o be a poor way go go; but given the scant detail of any details of any elongated heads in total in the world; it is one of the few ways ways that is possible at all.When I did the same thing for hirsute people it worked well; There was even less information but due to those people not marrying their sisters and aunts; and their being know in modern times where documents exist to show who they did and did not marry; it was a lot easier.I had read a lot about Akhenaten from various sources; the best I had though came from Colon Wilson's 'Tutankhamun'. Looking back now; any book on historic people from times before photographs existed is going to be somewhat of a laundry list; and most authors will find the same easier to obtain facts about them.But Brien never quits; and has probably found every detail available and every sculpture and every wall carving or painting; that has ever been discovered. And on top of that his book contains the photos of the mummies of every family member that has ever been unwrapped so far. It is a real success of the process of mummification that it is amazing to see the beauty of the people who were; in what remains of them after so long.It is clear that the political correctness of the time had many artists correct the looks of the family so that many do not show a head that is other than normal. In fact every photo of the bust of Tut that Carter tried to steal show it full face and had be believing that he had a normal head.From what Brien has made available in his book I have been able to come up with a tentative idea of how the gene for this form of elongated skull works.Often recessives for unusual body traits are able to express because two people who have the gene in their DNA come together through the law of the odds. In the modern world with it’s prohibition of incest; and the availability of genetic testing; it would not happen again. And unless the gene had some lethal effect or was linked to deformities; the individual probably would have lived a healthy life.But when family lines believe they are so special that inbreeding is used to condense the traits; or the owners of pedigree animals think the same thing about the dogs they own; you have two generations to have the line die out completely. As long as each individual has offspring only from others who are free of the trait; can the line continue.The conehead trait had to have come through Thutmose IV; to Amenhotep III. We have few details of his mother; and it is likely that she was unrelated or only distantly related to her husband. This can be assumed because; although the elongated head trait seems to make it difficult for a man with it to sire a son. In marrying Tiye; once believed unrelated but now though to be a relative of Thutmosis IV; she brought enough outside genes to be able to have a first son who died early; and then have Amenhotep IV; who became Akhenaten.We have no information of whether Tutmosis IV or Amenhotep III had any of the unusual physical traits we see in Akhenaten's depictions. It is likely that he either had some genetic mutation occur in himself to look that way or some other rare match happened due to his mother having some unrelated genes in her mix; for Akhenaten to have the DNA to sire a son.Both Thutmose IV and Amenhotep III had daughters by many concubines; who seemed to live healthy lives. There is a similarity here with the genetic pattern of Cattelo; the bison/cattle cross; seen a few decades ago as an 'improved' source of meat over beef; but the Cattelo have about died out now. While the female offspring were fertile the males were not. Human breeders interested in the trademark of hybrid DNA; made choices that left them with neither.All the depictions of the daughters of TIV and AIII are shown with a half form of head size. This would be because having two x chromosomes; the one getting the elongated gene is modified by the normal one which provides what is needed for a normal life. You may notice that Nefertiti has the full elongated head shape. This would imply that she got the gene from both parents. We don’t know who her parents were; or if there were other protective genes she inherited from a parent unrelated to the royal line.It may be that the daughters of Akhenaten and Nefertiti either inherited the gene from only their father; or inherited a protective gene from mom. The depictions of the young daughters show a half size head shape; which may be from inheriting a modifier or there being enough variation in the form of the gene that the difference between having two could be protective. It also could be that like some traits in aborigines; the trait the gene controls does not develop unto adulthood. Some of the art work shows a daughter more mature with a head shape that is becoming longer.Tut; married to a paternal half sister; produced two stillborn daughters. It is possible that had their been a larger popuation with the gene where inbreeding was not done; there might have neem a peahlty population of both sexes with elongated heads; as had happened in Paracas.If any of this speculation is accurate; it is possible because of the detail provided in Brien's book that was not available anywhere else.Brien also included selections from Akhenaten's correspondence and from his written thoughts that give us an idea of what kind of world this strange pharaoh had hoped to achieve. His purity of thought was almost devoid from political concerns.The politics of the time erased as much as was possible of and depictions or buildings dedicated to Akhenaten; and that included the remains of his wives and daughters. Being erased from history; makes it harder to figure out the genetics. I mentioned that I have read a number of other books about this family; but I have only felt this odd affinity for a family of individuals who I would have liked to have known; after reading Brien's book.5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Akhenaten: The Heretic PharaohBy BookReviewPersonally; I think this book is excellent. Very good writing style. There is a lot about Akhenaten that I did not know. Actually; there is more information about Akhenaten here in this book; then I have read in other books. I have talked to Brien Foerster via Facebook. And I can tell you he is a real truth seeker. BookReview Michael Peppers.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A Very Good Read.By Jeffery Roger JusticeVery Educational; and up to date information. Shows that the Sun was only a Symbol of the Aton; and that the Creator was Not Reprentable. A Very Good Read.