How tall was goliath

In the ancient world, however, this would not have been the case. Excessive production of GH is often the result of swelling in the pituitary gland, and in some cases, a benign tumor can press on the pituitary, secreting excessive amounts of GH. The most obvious symptoms of gigantism and acromegaly include a larger than normal body structure as well as the enlargement of the organs, muscles, hands, feet, and forehead.

And Dr. Eric J. Unfortunately, when left untreated, most patients with acromegaly or gigantism have reduced life expectancies and will often deal with extreme arthritis, heart conditions, dizziness, headaches, fatigue, decreased mental function, and even blurred vision if the tumor on the pituitary glands presses on the optic nerves.

If Goliath did have acromegaly and experienced mental, mobility, vision issues unknown to the Israelites , he would only be effective in close range, hand to hand combat. So, did his size help or hinder? Anyone who has read the early books of the Old Testament knows of the Philistines.

With their advanced iron weapons, innovative technology, and aggressive military tactics, the Philistines invaded, harassed, or otherwise oppressed the children of Israel for most of their early history. The Bible and archeological evidence both tell us that the Philistines were originally a seafaring people who had migrated from somewhere in the Aegean Sea possibly near modern day Crete; Jeremiah to the Mediterranean coast of Canaan around the 12 th century B.

Around the 13 th century B. That last city might sound familiar as it was said to be home of Goliath, the giant we read about in 1 Samuel In fact, only a few years ago, archeologists digging near Tell es-Safi in modern-day Israel unearthed what they believe to be the ruins of Gath , offering further insight into the cultural history and practices of the Philistines.

That city, when united with the other Philistine tribes, would have been an ideal staging point for Philistine incursions into the Judean countryside. It was one of these campaigns that brought Saul and David into conflict with the Philistines and their champion. So where did this conflict occur?

Of course, Goliath was a giant right? I found this very interesting because the lesser four cubits and a span would be a little over 6 and a half feet tall. Thus, no study of the Old Testament can be considered truly comprehensive unless the LXX is taken into consideration…. Goliath, the giant who was felled by King David in the Hebrew Bible, is described as having a jaw-dropping height. But that number may not have been a true physical measurement but rather a metaphor, drawn from the width of his hometown's city wall, new research suggests.

That doesn't reveal whether other aspects of the story are true — for instance whether Goliath was a giant or whether his mismatched battle with David took place. Related: Biblical battles: 12 ancient wars lifted from the bible. Some ancient texts say that Goliath stood at "four cubits and a span" —- which Chadwick says equals about 7. That would certainly have been an impressive height, as the tallest recorded person in modern times was Robert Wadlow, who stood an impressive 8 feet 11 inches 2.

Not a subscriber? Become one now. Skip to content. Science News Needs You Support nonprofit journalism. By Bruce Bower November 23, at am. Each of four inner pillars of an Iron Age gateway at et-Tell possibly the biblical city of Bethsaida , including this one, measures 2.

Eric Welch Archaeologists have long known that in ancient Egypt a cubit corresponded to