Dwarfs in Ancient Egypt

In contrast to the negative way people with dwarfism are often regarded in present-day society, dwarfs were treated without prejudice in Ancient Egypt. BBC News reports that a team from Georgetown University Hospital which has been looking at "biological remains and artistic evidence of dwarfism" in Ancient Egypt has found dwarfs were assimilated into all levels of everyday life, that "their disorder was never shown as a physical handicap [and] moral teachings in Ancient Egypt commanded respect for dwarfs and other individuals with disabilities."

One of the Ancient Egyptian gods, Bes, who was a protector of families, pregnant women, and babies, was a dwarf. Scholars can't agree whether depictions of Bes show him having a combination of human and lion features, or whether he's wearing a lion-skin cape. Read BBC News report...

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