Male Figure, Possibly with Dwarfism
Description
<p>Individuals with dwarfism played an interesting role in Egyptian society since Predynastic times. Dwarfism--a genetic condition characterized by unusually short stature and shortened limbs--is frequently represented in Egyptian tomb reliefs and statues. People with dwarfism were believed, because of their unusual appearance, to have supernatural powers and a special relation to the gods. Figurines depicting people with dwarfism were used as amulets and have been found in tombs as well as in ritual places.This male figure may have been depicted as having characteristics of dwarfism. He has a large forehead, perforations for the eyes, and incised eye brows. The arms and bowed legs are twisted. The stomach is distended and there is a ridge across the buttocks that may have originally connected the figure to a seat.</p><p>For the latest information about this object, <cite><a href='https://purl.thewalters.org/art/71.534' rel='external'>Male Figure, Possibly with Dwarfism</a></cite>, visit the Online Collection of the Walters Art Museum.</p>
Cross-references (2)
- Walters-AccNum 71.534 tier-2
- Walters-id 35146 tier-2
About this record's data
- From the source institution — accession, description, dimensions, and dating are as catalogued by Walters Art Museum (Egyptian).
- AI-inferred — the image-analysis panel (deities, names, signs) is machine-generated and may be wrong.
- Approximate location — most map points are plotted at the site centroid, not the exact findspot.
- Inferred links — cross-references marked with a match method other than explicit-source-field were matched by us, not stated by the source.