The biblical tale of wee David slaying Goliath is the grand archetype of giant-killer imagery, but research suggests those who believe David was the underdog might be wrong. An Israeli neurologist said Goliath suffered from a hormonal disease which put him at a disadvantage.
Vladimir Berginer said Goliath, who the OldTestament indicates was about 3m tall, suffered from a pituitary gland disease called acromegaly which "is the only disease where sufferers can grow to such a height."
Goliath had an advanced form of the illness, causing a tumour to swell against an optic nerve and damaging his vision. "I am sure that at times Goliath did not see David because in the Bible it was written Goliath was slow, but David ran."
