Egypt: Dwarfs and Pygmies of Ancient Egypt

Dwarfs and Pygmies of Ancient Egypt By Jimmy Dunn writing as Richard Warner

Dwarfs in ancient Egypt appear to have suffered little due to prejudice. This was the most serious congenital abnormality recorded in ancient Egypt. Well known Egyptologists Kent Weeks has recorded nine skeletons of this type, and Dasen lists !" known representations of dwarfism.

The disease, known as achondroplasia, was probably caused by inbreeding, and thus might very well have occurred in royal families. This disease results in a head and trunk of normal si#e with shortened limbs. E$amples have been found even dating back to Egypt%s predynastic period. We know of a number of e$amples where dwarfs were well integrated into society, holding important positions and marrying woman of normal stature. This is not to say that the condition was not recogni#ed by the Egyptians, but tolerance was taught. &n the &nstruction of 'menemope at the end of the nd millennium (), a call for justice and forbearance is provided* +ock not the blind nor deride the dwarf nor block the cripple%s path, don%t tease a man made ill by a god nor make outcry when he blunders. We find dwafs in the form of gods, such as (es. While the Egyptian reasoning for dwarf gods such as (es is unclear, some have suggested that the belief sprang from an association with dwarfs as familiar protective beings. &t is likely that dwarfs benefited socially from their resemblance to these gods.

We find e$amples of dwarfs in skilled positions such as jewelry craftsman as depicted in the -ld Kingdom tomb of +ereruka at .a//ara, and in other wall paintings they are shown tending animals, undertaking agricultural work and occasionally as entertainers for high officials. 't other times they are shown as serving important households sometimes as entertainers and in other capacities.

-ne e$ample of a very important dwarf was .eneb, a 0th or early 1th Dynasty dwarf. 2e was overseer of the palace dwarfs, chief of the royal wardrobe and priest of the funerary cults of Khufu. ' fine statue depicts him with his family, including his wife who was of normal stature, and two children. 2is wife was known to have been a lady of the court and a priestess. The ancient Egyptians called both dwarfs and 3ygmies deneg. &n fact, ancient literature and references barely disting/uish between Dwarfs and 3ygmies. 2owever, 3ygmies, probably because they were usually foreign born, did not enjoy the treatment given to dwarfs. They were usually imported from tropical 'frica and most often served in the capacity of dancers or acrobats. While dwarfs might be a part of the court, the pygmies were entertainment for the court, but valued in this respect. ' letter from 3epy && of the 4th Dynasty urges 2arkhuf, who was on his way back from an e$pedition to the south of the .udan, to take great care of the dancing pygmy he had ac/uired. The letter states that, 5+y majesty desires to see this pygmy more than the gifts of the mineland 6.inai7 and of 3unt5.