Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The STEP trials

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Hormones

16-01-2024 | Disorder of Sex Development | Historical note

Poseidon and Caeneus: a case of pubertal gender inversion in Greek mythology

Authors: Maria I. Stamou, Anastasia K. Armeni, George Kazantzidis, Neoklis A. Georgopoulos, Georgios K. Markantes

Published in: Hormones

Login to get access

Abstract

Disorders of sex development (DSDs) are very frequently encountered in ancient Greek mythology. One of the most striking types of DSD described in many myths is gender transformation wherein a female becomes a male or vice versa. Herein, we present via the marvelous myth of Poseidon and Caeneus a case of pubertal gender inversion. A medical interpretation of the myth whereby we attempt to form a diagnosis of this case of DSD is also presented.
Literature
1.
Gellius A (1927) Noctes atticae (Attic Nights), Volume I: Books 1-5. Translated by J. C. Rolfe. Loeb Classical Library. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA
2.
Pliny (1989) Natural history, Volume II: Books 3-7. Historia Naturalis, The Loeb Classical Library. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA
3.
4.
Apollonius Rhodius (1912) Argonautica, translated by R.C. Seaton. Loeb Classical Library Volume 001, William Heinemann, London.
5.
Phlegon of Tralles (1996) Book of marvels, translated by William F. University of Exeter Press, Hansen
6.
Translation by Panagiota Vavarouta, philologist.
7.
Virgil (1916) Eclogues. Georgics. Aeneid: Books 1-6, translated by H.R. Fairclough. The Loeb Classical Library. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA
8.
9.
Apollodorus (1921) The Library, with an English translation by Sir James George Frazer. Book V, §22. William Heinemann, London.
10.
Celoria F (1992) The metamorphoses of Antoninus Liberalis, a translation with a commentary, vol XVII. Routledge, London and New York, p §4
11.
Rabe H (1906) Scholia in Lucianum. Teubner, Lisiae
12.
Oçal G (2011) Current concepts in disorders of sexual development. J Clin Res Ped Endo 3:105–114
13.
Mendonca BB, Batista RL, Domenice S, Costa EM, Arnhold IJ, Russell DW, Wilson JD (2016) Steroid 5α-reductase 2 deficiency. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 63:206–211CrossRef
14.
Imperato-McGinley J, Zhu YS (2002) Androgens and male physiology the syndrome of 5alpha-reductase-2 deficiency. Mol Cell Endocrinol 198:51–59CrossRefPubMed
15.
Mendonca BB, Gomes NL, Costa EM, Inacio M, Martin RM, Nishi MY, Carvalho FM, Tibor FD, Domenice S (2017) 46,XY disorder of sex development (DSD) due to 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 3 deficiency. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 165:79–85CrossRefPubMed
16.
George MM, New MI, Ten S, Sultan C, Bhangoo A (2010) The clinical and molecular heterogeneity of 17βHSD-3 enzyme deficiency. Horm Res Paediatr 74:229–240CrossRefPubMed
17.
Skordis N, Shammas C, Efstathiou E, Sertedaki A, Neocleous V, Phylactou L (2011) Late diagnosis of 5alpha steroid-reductase deficiency due to IVS12A>G mutation of the SRD5a2 gene in an adolescent girl presented with primary amenorrhea. Hormones (Athens) 10:230–235CrossRefPubMed
18.
Hummadi AA, Yahya AO, Al-Qahtani AM (2017) Late diagnosis of 5-α-reductase type 2 deficiency in an adolescent girl with primary amenorrhoea. Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J 17:e218–e220CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
19.
Maimoun L, Philibert P, Bouchard P, Ocal G, Leheup B, Fenichel P (2011) Primary amenorrhea in four adolescents revealed 5a-reductase deficiency confirmed by molecular analysis. Fertil Steril 95:804.e1–804.e5CrossRefPubMed
20.
Maimoun L, Philibert P, Cammas B et al (2011) Phenotypical, biological, and molecular heterogeneity of 5α-reductase deficiency: an extensive international experience of 55 patients. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 96:296–307CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Poseidon and Caeneus: a case of pubertal gender inversion in Greek mythology
Authors
Maria I. Stamou
Anastasia K. Armeni
George Kazantzidis
Neoklis A. Georgopoulos
Georgios K. Markantes
Publication date
16-01-2024
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Hormones
Print ISSN: 1109-3099
Electronic ISSN: 2520-8721
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s42000-023-00524-9
Live Webinar | 27-06-2024 | 18:00 (CEST)

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Reserve your place

Live: Thursday 27th June 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)

WHO estimates that half of all patients worldwide are non-adherent to their prescribed medication. The consequences of poor adherence can be catastrophic, on both the individual and population level.

Join our expert panel to discover why you need to understand the drivers of non-adherence in your patients, and how you can optimize medication adherence in your clinics to drastically improve patient outcomes.

Prof. Kevin Dolgin
Prof. Florian Limbourg
Prof. Anoop Chauhan
Developed by: Springer Medicine
Obesity Clinical Trial Summary

At a glance: The STEP trials

Read more

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.

Developed by: Springer Medicine

Highlights from the ACC 2024 Congress

Year in Review: Pediatric cardiology

Pediatric Cardiology Video

Watch Dr. Anne Marie Valente present the last year's highlights in pediatric and congenital heart disease in the official ACC.24 Year in Review session.

Year in Review: Pulmonary vascular disease

Cardiopulmonary Comorbidity Video

The last year's highlights in pulmonary vascular disease are presented by Dr. Jane Leopold in this official video from ACC.24.

Year in Review: Valvular heart disease

Valvular Heart Disease Video

Watch Prof. William Zoghbi present the last year's highlights in valvular heart disease from the official ACC.24 Year in Review session.

Year in Review: Heart failure and cardiomyopathies

Heart Failure Video

Watch this official video from ACC.24. Dr. Biykem Bozkurt discusses last year's major advances in heart failure and cardiomyopathies.

ACC 2024 Congress Coverage

Year in Review: Heart failure and cardiomyopathies

Heart Failure Video

Watch this official video from ACC.24. Dr. Biykem Bozkurt discusses last year's major advances in heart failure and cardiomyopathies.

Watch now

Semaglutide benefits people with type 2 diabetes and obesity-related heart failure

16-04-2024 Type 2 Diabetes News

Incentivised to exercise

11-04-2024 Lifestyle Modifications News

New intervention for STEMI-related cardiogenic shock

10-04-2024 Myocardial Infarction News

» View more highlights on the ACC 2024 congress hub page

Image Credits