# “Mesmerizing and Terrifying”: Senusret III’s Unique Macrotia

## TL;DR

This paper explores why ancient Egyptian pharaoh Senusret III's statues show exaggerated ear size, concluding it was likely for symbolic or political reasons.

## Contribution

The paper provides a novel interpretation of Senusret III's macrotia as a deliberate artistic or propaganda choice rather than a medical condition.

## Key findings

- Senusret III's statues display a unique macrotia not seen in other pharaohs.
- The paper concludes the feature was likely symbolic or political, not medical.
- No medical etiology adequately explains the consistent portrayal across multiple statues.

## Abstract

The ancient Egyptian pharaoh Senusret III was a legend to both his contemporaries and his descendants: an ideal of kingly power whose legacy of control and intimidation was remembered for centuries. Of particular note is the unique macrotia that the king's statues display. In this paper, we discuss possible etiologies of Senusret's unique presentation and ultimately conclude that Senusret's immortalized features were likely rooted in propaganda rather than a medical cause.