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Egipcios
Historical Review
Dwarfs in Ancient Egypt
Chahira Kozma*
Department of Pediatrics, Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia
Received 3 July 2005; Accepted 10 October 2005
Ancient Egypt was one of the most advanced and productive their close relation to the king. Some of them were Seneb,
civilizations in antiquity, spanning 3000 years before the Pereniankh, Khnumhotpe, and Djeder. There were at least
‘‘Christian’’ era. Ancient Egyptians built colossal temples and two dwarf gods, Ptah and Bes. The god Ptah was associated
magnificent tombs to honor their gods and religious leaders. with regeneration and rejuvenation. The god Bes was a
Their hieroglyphic language, system of organization, and protector of sexuality, childbirth, women, and children. He
recording of events give contemporary researchers insights was a favored deity particularly during the Greco-Roman
into their daily activities. Based on the record left by their art, period. His temple was recently excavated in the Baharia
the ancient Egyptians documented the presence of dwarfs in oasis in the middle of Egypt. The burial sites and artistic
almost every facet of life. Due to the hot dry climate and sources provide glimpses of the positions of dwarfs in daily
natural and artificial mummification, Egypt is a major source life in ancient Egypt. Dwarfs were accepted in ancient Egypt;
of information on achondroplasia in the old world. The their recorded daily activities suggest assimilation into daily
remains of dwarfs are abundant and include complete and life, and their disorder was not shown as a physical handicap.
partial skeletons. Dwarfs were employed as personal Wisdom writings and moral teachings in ancient Egypt
attendants, animal tenders, jewelers, and entertainers. commanded respect for dwarfs and other individuals with
Several high-ranking dwarfs especially from the Old King- disabilities. ß 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
dom (2700–2190 BCE) achieved important status and had
lavish burial places close to the pyramids. Their costly tombs
in the royal cemeteries and the inscriptions on their statutes Key words: disability; Egyptology; ancient Egypt; dwarf-
indicate their high-ranking position in Egyptian society and ism; achondroplasia; short stature
304 KOZMA
TABLE I. Chronology of Ancient Egypt evidence about dwarfism as a medical condition is
The Old Kingdom 3rd–8th dynasty 2700–2190 BC non-existing. The medical papyri, did not mention
The first intermediate period 9–10th dynasty 2190–2010 BC dwarfism since the ancient Egyptians did not likely
The Middle Kingdom 11–12th dynasty 2106–1786 BC consider it to be a disorder or a disease.
The second intermediate 13–17th dynasty 1786–1550 BC
period
The hieroglyphic words for dwarfs and pygmies are
The New Kingdom 18–20th dynasty 1550–1069 BC dng or deneg, nmw, and hw. A determinative or a
The late period 21–30 dynasty 1069–332 BC symbol depicting a dwarf with short limbs and a
The Ptolemaic period 15 Ptolemies 332–40 BC normal trunk usually accompanies these words. While
From 2686 until 332 BC, a series of 30 dynasties ruled Egypt, which were many types of dwarfism were documented in ancient
organized by historians into four periods: the Old Kingdom, Middle, New, and Egypt, most skeletal remains and artistic pictures
the Late Kingdoms. The first three periods were separated from each another
by, respectively, the first and second intermediate periods. The early dynastic
identify short-limb dwarfism, mainly achondroplasia.
period lasted from 3000 to 2700 BC. The Greeks invaded Egypt in 332 BC under The ancient Egyptian artists developed standards for
Alexander the Great and created the Ptolemaic Dynasties that ended with the depicting dwarfs that deviated slightly from normal
death of Cleopatra in 30 BC and the occupation of Egypt by the Romans under
Octavian (Augustus). In 641–642 AD the Arabs conquered Egypt bringing it into [Dasen, 1988]. They were portrayed with a small
the Islamic world [Strouhal, 1992]. disproportionate statue. The head was large, the torso
was relatively long, and both upper and lower limbs
were short. The legs were frequently bowed. Often,
dwarfs were illustrated with lordosis and protuberant
abdomen. ‘‘Dwarfs in Ancient Egypt and Greece’’
provides the reader with a comprehensive review of
this subject [Dasen, 1993].
The pharaohs and nobles of ancient Egypt delighted
to have in their households pygmies and dwarfs. An
important early written record that highlights the
value placed on dwarfs in ancient Egypt was by
Harkhuf. He was an army general and a high official
during the time of kings Merenre1 and Pepi II2 and was
a governor of Aswan in Upper Egypt. He conducted
several expeditions to Africa and especially to the land
of Punt or Akhtiu, thought to be near present-day
Somalia and Eritrea. He inscribed on his tomb in
Asswan an extraordinary letter he received from King
Pepi II congratulating him about the precious
treasures he brought to Egypt from Africa and
especially about a pygmy who could do exotic dances
and delight the heart of the king [Dawson, 1938]. The
short man was called a ‘‘dng of the god’s dances.’’ An
abbreviation of the letter of the child king, who was
then about 8 years old follows:
Biological Remains
306 KOZMA
ARTISITC EVIDENCE
The pictorial sources of dwarfs in ancient Egypt
especially during the Old Kingdom are quite
abundant and include tomb and vase paintings,
statues, and minor arts. A funerary gift depicting a
female dwarf was found in the tomb of King
Tutankhamun9. It is on display at Cairo Museum,
Egypt. The female dwarf is naked with two bracelets
and armlets and wears a wig of short curly hair. She
has the typical facial features and bodily character-
istics of achondroplasia. In addition, she has bowed
legs and clubfeet deformity.
Artistic evidence indicates that dwarfs were
employed as personal attendants, overseers of linen,
animal tenders, jewelers, dancers, and entertainers.
There was a significant value placed on dwarfs in
ancient Egypt [Ghalioungui and El Dawakhly, 1965].
There were several elite dwarfs from the Old
Kingdom who achieved important status and had a
lavish burial place in the royal cemetery close to the
pyramids. Their names and titles were inscribed on
their funerary statues or reliefs. They were Seneb,
Pereniankh, Khnumhotpe, and Djeder.
ELITE DWARFS
FIG. 4. Statuary group of the dwarf Seneb and his family. Cairo Museum.
Cairo, Egypt.
308 KOZMA
Dwarf Khnumhotep
The dwarf Khnumhotep dates back to the Old
Kingdom. His name was found on his statue. He
achieved courtly status, held the title ‘‘Overseer of
Clothing,’’ and ka-priest14. His titles suggest that he
belonged to the household of a high official. His
small figurine, which measures 18 inches and is made
out of painted limestone, is on display at Cairo
museum, Egypt. It was found in Saqqara and is one of
most famous of Old Kingdom sculptures. The dwarf
Khnumhotep has large cranial vault and elongated
skull, however his facial features are normal. He has
shortening of the proximal parts of his upper limbs.
He wears a kilt that slopes at his waist and reaches
below his knees. His lower limbs are especially short.
His back is arched, his abdomen is protruded, and he
has a stocky torso [Sampsell, 2001].
DWARF GODS
There were several anonymous dwarf gods in
ancient Egypt. The dwarf gods, Ptah and Bes were
the best known and were involved in magical
practices to protect the living and the dead. FIG. 6. The god Ptah. Courtesy of the Walters Museum, Baltimore, Maryland.
310 KOZMA
CONCLUSION
FIG. 9. Dwarf tending a monkey. Relief from the tomb of Nefer, Giza, Egypt.
Old Kingdom, 2180 BC (Pelizaeus-Museum inv. no. 2390)’’. ß Roemer- und Several Egyptologists and researchers have con-
Pelizaeus-Museum, Hildesheim. cluded that the image of short people in ancient
Egypt is essentially positive [Sullivan, 2001]. Achon-
from the Old Kingdom tomb of Nefer in Giza that
droplastic dwarfs had magical significance and they
dates back to the sixth dynasty (2180 BC), a dwarf is
were associated with the sun god. Numerous
holding a monkey on his head, both standing en
figurines and amulets were formed in their shape.
miniature under the chair of the tomb owner (Fig. 9).
The function of the dwarfs was for the protection of
Several reliefs from the Old Kingdom tombs depict
the living and the dead from dangers facing them
male and females dwarf entertainers, dancing, sing-
including diseases, venomous animals, snakes,
ing, or playing music. A limestone figurine from the
crocodiles, and other dangers. In several New
tomb of Nikainpu at Giza depicts a sitting dwarf
Kingdom papyri, they are described as rising up to
playing the harp (Fig. 10). The facial features and
the sky and going down to the underworld. In
short limbs of the dwarf musician are characteristic of
incantation three against the snakes in the Magical
achondroplasia. In the tomb of the high official
and Medical Papyri of the New Kingdom, the name of
Nuntjer in Giza, a small woman, most likely a female
dwarf is invoked for protection from the snakes: ‘‘O,
dwarf is in the middle of two group of average height
dwarf! My magical powers are against my enemies.
woman performing a lively dance [Arnold, 1999]. She
To render the influence of the poison of the snakes
wears a wreath of flowers on her head and wears a
harmless. May they be free from intrusion for ever.’’ In
belt with strips. The average-size dancers wear
the same papyrus the dwarf god is invoked to stand
crossed short kilts with shoulders straps (Fig. 11).
by the speaker: ‘‘O that dwarf of the sky, O that dwarf
Cairo Museum has amuletic figures depicting naked
of the sky. O dwarf great of face, with high back and
ethnic pygmies dancing. These figurines date back to
short thighs. O great pillars, extending from the sky to
the 12th dynasty. The little figures had holes and
the underworld. O Lord of the great corps which rests
were connected to strings which, when pulled,
in Heliopolis. O great living lord’ [Leitz, 1999].
would make the dancers move.
Women in childbirth also invoked the help of dwarf
gods. In a magical papyrus at Leiden, there is a spell
to facilitate birth, called ‘‘the spell of the dwarf’’: ‘‘O
good dwarf, come, because of the one who sent
you...come down placenta, come down placenta,
come down! The prayer was to be spoken four times
over a dwarf of clay placed upon the vertex of the
woman who is giving birth.’’ In the spell of the Vulva
the woman in pain shouts: ‘‘To the man for a dwarf-
statute of clay’’ [Borghouts, 1971].
Another indication of the positive attitude toward
dwarfs in ancient Egypt is revealed in moral and
wisdom teachings. Ancient Egyptians had a strict
code of ethics as expressed by the New Kingdom
Instructions of Amenemope who lived during the
reign of Amenhotep III18. The instructions of
18
FIG. 10. Dwarf playing the harp. Courtesy of the Oriental Institute. Chicago, Amenhotep III was the Ninth King of Egypt’s 18th dynasty (1391–
USA. 1354 BCE).
American Journal of Medical Genetics: DOI 10.1002/ajmg.a
Amenemope commanded respect for dwarfs and Dasen V. 1988. Dwarfism in Egypt and classical antiquity:
other individuals with handicapping conditions: Iconography and medical history. Med Hist 32:253–276.
Dasen V. 1993. Dwarfs in ancient Egypt and Greece. New York:
Do not jeer at a blind man nor tease a dwarf Oxford University Press.
Neither interfere with the condition of a cripple; Dawson WR. 1938. Pygmies and dwarfs in ancient Egypt. J Egypt
Arch 24:85–189.
Do not taunt a man who is in the hand of God, Emery WB. 1954. Great tombs of the first dynasty; excavations at
Nor scowl at him if he errs. Saqqara. Cairo: Government Press. 36p.
Filer J. 1995. Disease, Egyptian bookshelf. London: The British
Additional instructions of Amenemope give posi- Museum Press. p 36–39.
Ghalioungui P, El Dawakhly Z. 1965. Health and Healing in
tive images of attitudes toward human limits. It also ancient Egypt. Al-Maaref, Cairo: Egyptian Organization for
teaches that care for the old, sick, and malformed is a Authorship and Translation. p 19–20.
moral duty, because ‘‘Man is clay and straw, the God Hamada G, Rida A. 1972. Orthopaedics and orthopaedic diseases
is his builder. The Wise Man should respect people in ancient and modern Egypt. Clin Orthop Relat Res 89:253–
affected by reversal of fortune’’ [Simpson, 1973]. 268.
Hawass Z. 2000. Valley of the Golden Mummies. New York: Harry
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accepted in ancient Egypt and were given a visible Hecht F. 1990. Bes, Aesop and Morgante: Reflections of
role in the society. Furthermore their daily activities achondroplasia. Clin Genet 37:279–282.
suggest integration in daily life and that their disorder Jones EWAH. 1932. Studies in achondroplasia. J Anat 66:569–573.
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Nunn JF. 1996. Ancient Egyptian medicine. Oklahoma: University
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Putschar WGJ, Ortner DJ. 1985. Identification of pathological
I thank my husband, Samir Gabriel, DDS, for taking conditions in human Skeletal remains. Washington: Smithso-
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