For centuries, humans have spun tales of giants, from the cyclopes of Greek mythology to the biblical Goliath. But are these mere legends, or have true giants roamed the Earth? If you define a giant as someone exceeding 9 feet tall, then the answer is yes. Robert Wadlow, the tallest person ever recorded, reached 8 feet, 11 inches (2.72 meters) before passing away at the age of 22 in 1940. Wadlow’s height was far beyond the current average of around 5 feet, 9 inches (1.75 m), exceeding even some interpretations of ancient giants. However, Wadlow’s exceptional stature was not the result of magic. Like most real-life giants, his height stemmed from a medical condition.
“The majority of [giant] patients have a growth hormone problem,” explained Dr. Anna Korbonits, an endocrinology professor at Queen Mary University of London. “That’s what Robert Wadlow had.” Korbonits emphasized that the leading cause of gigantism is an excess of growth hormone produced by the pituitary gland in the brain. This excess is usually caused by a benign tumor. The likelihood of another person achieving Wadlow’s height is slim, as medical advancements allow doctors to diagnose and treat gigantism early, halting excessive growth and mitigating the associated health risks.
Other conditions, such as Marfan syndrome, a genetic disorder that causes elongated bones, can also lead to extraordinary height. However, some individuals attain exceptional height without any known medical condition. Bao Xishun, standing at 7 feet, 9 inches (2.36 m), is one such example. These individuals likely possess a unique set of genetic variants predisposing them to tall stature.
While studying giants living in modern times is easier, exceptionally tall individuals have likely existed throughout history. Evidence for this comes from the alleged remains of an ancient Egyptian pharaoh, estimated to have been around 6 feet, 1.6 inches (1.87 m). Additionally, Korbonits’ research revealed that many families with real-life giants inherited a gene mutation from an ancestor who lived 2,500 years ago. “Since humanity has been around, we’ve had these diseases, so there’s no reason you wouldn’t have had these giants in Ancient Egypt or any other time of human history,” Korbonits explained.
Genetics and environmental factors, such as early childhood diet, work in concert to influence human height. With advancements in civilization, populations have generally grown taller over time. However, this trend isn’t always linear. Dr. Alexander Grasgruber, a researcher at Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic, pointed out that some male skeletons from the late phase of the mammoth-hunting Gravettian culture, dating back approximately 29,000 years, exhibited extraordinary height. The tallest of these seven skeletons, unearthed in the Grimaldi cave system in Italy around the turn of the 20th century, is believed to have stood 6 feet, 5 inches (1.96 m).
“Consider that at the time these skeletons were found, the standard for male height in Europe was under 170 cm [5 feet, 7 inches]!” Grasgruber highlighted. “No wonder these people must have seemed like ‘giants’ to the scientists of the time.” While researchers are unsure if these tall remains represented the typical height of the Gravettian population, Grasgruber noted that tall males were common in early Upper Paleolithic populations of France and Moravia, achieving heights that modern industrial nations wouldn’t reach until the mid-20th century. He attributed this to the low population density and abundant game, including mammoths and other large mammals, which provided ample sustenance and favorable living conditions for these early hunter-gatherers.
The existence of giants throughout history underscores the remarkable diversity and adaptability of the human species. While medical conditions can lead to exceptional height, it is also a testament to the interplay of genetics and environmental factors in shaping our physical characteristics. As scientific understanding of human growth continues to evolve, we can expect to learn even more about the fascinating phenomenon of human giants.
