Female 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 female figurine may have been depicted with the characteristics of dwarfism. She has a large forehead, perforations at the eyes to allow for inlay, and incised curved ridges to denote the brow. The upper arms are fat, the chest narrow, the hips wide, and the legs short and twisted. The wide pubic triangle is marked by a pattern of drilled holes. It is likely that this figure was used to secure fertility.</p><p>For the latest information about this object, <cite><a href='https://purl.thewalters.org/art/71.532' rel='external'>Female Figure, Possibly with Dwarfism</a></cite>, visit the Online Collection of the Walters Art Museum.</p>
Cross-references (2)
- Walters-AccNum 71.532 tier-2
- Walters-id 18110 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.