Dwarfs in Ancient Egypt and Greece

Dasen, Véronique

doi:10.1111/j.1467-8357.1994.tb00035.x

Cited by 35 publications

(55 citation statements)

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“…The funerary context from Predynastic tombs suggest that dwarfs were valued enough to accompany the deceased to the after life. A limestone carving in Cairo Museum (CG14518) from Predynastic time depicts dwarf warriors mastering dangerous animals supporting an early belief in the supernatural powers of dwarfs [Dasen, 1993].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The ancient Egyptian dwarfs of the Walters Art Museum

Kozma

2010

American J of Med Genetics Pt A

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The ancient Egyptians left an impressive artistic legacy documenting many aspects of their society including the existence of dwarfs as highly valued members. In previous publications in the Journal, I discussed dwarfs and skeletal dysplasia in ancient Egypt. In this study, I examined the ancient Egyptian representations of dwarfs of the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland. One of the highlights of the collection is a group of five ivory figurines from Predynastic Times (pre 3500-3100 BCE) depicting a couple, a man with a child, and two females. Representations from other periods include ordinary as well as dwarf deities. The dwarf gods, Bes and Ptah, are frequently depicted holding or biting snakes or standing on crocodiles symbolizing their ability to ward off dangers. A couple of statuettes from the Greco-Roman Period that, in contrast to earlier Egyptian Periods, depict harsh physical anomalies, twisted bodies, and facial pain. The artistic impression can be interpreted as either tragic or humorous. The grotesque depiction of dwarfs during the Greco-Roman Period in ancient Egypt is believed to be due to a greater infusion of Hellenistic influence. This study provides a microcosm of the legacy of dwarfs in ancient Egypt and supports the premise that dwarfs were accepted and integrated in the ancient Egyptian society, and with a few exceptions, their disorder was not depicted as a physical handicap.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The ancient Egyptian dwarfs of the Walters Art Museum

Kozma

2010

American J of Med Genetics Pt A

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“…In Imperial Rome, the presence of dwarfs in the historical sources is related to their role as dancers, music comedians, clowns and jugglers, because the members of the high society developed a pronounced taste for entertainers with evident physical or mental malformations, such as cretins, hunchbacks and dwarfs. The dwarfs were also appreciated as personal attendants, for example the emperors Tiberius, Alexandrus Severus and Marcus Aurelius retained achondroplasic dwarfs as precious counselors [2,18].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This process was performed taking into account the forms of dwarfism characterized by micromegalia and morphological alteration of the limbs that allow to reach adult age [2,[14][15][16].…”

Section: Differential Diagnosismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since the earliest times dwarfism has been the most commonly depicted human physical disorder, found in Egypt, Greece, and in the Roman world, in a large part of the period of Predynastic Egypt (about 3000 BC) until the end of the Roman Empire (V th century AD) [2]. However, despite numerous artistic representations, the palaeopathology of dwarfism is scarce.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dwarfism in Imperial Rome: A Case of Skeletal Evidence

Lunardini¹,

Caramella²

2013

J Clinic Res Bioeth

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The palaeopathological study of skeletal human remains may contribute to extend the knowledge about ancient diseases and their impact on society. Literary sources about many pathological conditions are scarce, but in some cases they are improved by iconographic representations of diseases in paintings and sculptures from the ancient world in Egyptian, Greek and Roman art. In the same way, the anthropological description and medical diagnosis of pathological skeletons found during archaeological excavations witness the presence of diseases.This work presents a case of dwarfism in an adult skeleton of the Imperial Age (I-II century A.D.) from Rome. The anthropological study evidenced a very short stature of this individual (ca 134 cm) who showed several centimetres of shortening of the limbs, compared with the osteometric data of the coeval Roman population. The presence of dwarfs in Rome during the Imperial Age is well documented by literary and iconographic sources; they were very appreciated, in particular by elitarian families, and provided for jokes and entertainment purposes.

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“…The pharaohs and nobles of ancient Egypt were enchanted to have in their households pygmies and dwarfs (Dasen 1993). The high value placed on dwarfs in ancient Egypt is highlighted by the praise given to Harkuf, a general who served King Pepi II (2278-2184 BCE), when he returned from an African expedition with precious treasures and a pygmy or a dwarf who could perform exotic dances.…”

Section: Dwarfsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Genetic Disorders in Ancient Egypt

Kozma

2010

Genetic Disorders Among Arab Populations

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Dwarfs in Ancient Egypt and Greece

Cited by 35 publications

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The ancient Egyptian dwarfs of the Walters Art Museum

The ancient Egyptian dwarfs of the Walters Art Museum

Dwarfism in Imperial Rome: A Case of Skeletal Evidence

Genetic Disorders in Ancient Egypt

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