Dwarfs in Ancient Egypt (ca. 2700-2180 BC)
In 2005, a team of researchers from Georgetown University Hospital put together a study of dwarfism in ancient Egyptian society, based on tomb and skeletal evidence.
Published in the American Journal of Medical Genetics, this study revealed that the ancient Egyptians not only worshipped dwarf gods, but many dwarfs also held prominent positions in households and royal palaces.
The study found that in at least 50 tombs, there were artistic depictions of dwarfs that followed similar themes, indicating that dwarfs were well-integrated members of Egyptian society. They often held the same social positions as those of average height, such as personal attendants, entertainment overseers, or prominent merchants. Some tomb depictions even showed dwarfs in elite positions, acting as attendants to high court officials – indeed; several extremely rich dwarf burials have been identified in the royal cemetery near the pyramids at Giza.
This respect for dwarfism may have arisen from the inclusion of two dwarf gods in the Egyptian pantheon: Bes (protector of childbirth and children), and Ptah (god of reincarnation). Statues and vase paintings of these gods – and other dwarfs – were prevalent in the Old Kingdom.
According to Dr. Chahira Kozma, a member of the Georgetown study, “wisdom writings and moral teachings in ancient Egypt commanded respect for dwarfs and other individuals with disabilities.” Clearly, dwarfism was not viewed by the ancient Egyptians as a physical handicap, and indeed may have enabled these individuals to achieve even greater success within their communities.
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