Achondroplasia in the Old World
Figure 6 (Filer 1996: 60): Dwarfs depicted making jewelry
Although achondroplasia is a rare condition, there is skeletal evidence of this condition from the Old World. The earliest known example of achondroplasia was found in Italy and dates back to the Upper Paleolithic (Frayer et al. 1987).
The majority of achondroplastic dwarf remains have been recovered from Egypt, and achondroplasia has been depicted in Egyptian art more than any other congenital abnormality (Dasen 1993). This art suggests that many royal families employed dwarfs in their households. These individuals most certainly contributed to society, and may have even achieved high status. Common chores that dwarfs performed were tending to animals, especially the personal pets of their masters, carrying objects, assembling jewelry, and entertaining. One of the earliest drawings of dwarfism, from Abydos, is on a bowl of metamorphic rock, and is known as the dwarf of Djer. Paintings of achondroplastic dwarfs can also be seen on the lids of sarcophaguses and on tomb walls. It has been suggested that in ancient times this condition affected more males than females, but this cannot be proven. This idea may be due to the fact more men appear in Egyptian art than women (Filer 1996).
The earliest example of an achondroplastic skeleton in Egypt is thought to have been from the Badarian period, 4500 BC. Although the skull does not show any abnormalities, the long bones, especially the humeri, are reduced in size. The articular surfaces of both the shoulder and elbow joint show attrition, possibly due to arthritis (Dasen 1993).
Figure 7 (Dasen 1993: 18): Skull, clavicles, radii, ulnae, humeri, and vertebrae of first known skeletal example of achondroplasia
Archaeologists have recently suggested that there is a burial area near the Giza pyramids used solely for high-ranking dwarfs. Located in this area was Seneb, an Egyptian court official who lived during the Sixth Dynasty and cared for the clothing of the elite. He also controlled the dwarfs who worked belong him in the same profession (Dasen 1993). Although he was clearly an achondroplastic dwarf, in his funerary statue the artist placed him seated on a pillar with his wife seated beside him, and his children where his feet would be. Both his wife and his children were of average height. This placement maintains the honor and dignity of Seneb (Filer 1996).
Near the tomb of Seneb at Giza, the tomb and skeleton of Perenankh was found, another court official during the Fifth or Sixth Dynasty. Perenankh was thought to have been "Administrator of the Treasury." Although the facial bones of his skeleton were not recovered, the remainder of his skeleton is characteristic of an achondroplastic dwarf: short and robust upper and lower limbs. He is believed to have lived until the age of forty, further demonstrating the relatively normal lives that dwarfs were able to lead (Filer 1996).
The third tomb to have been found in the area, dating back to the Fifth Dynasty, belongs to Khnumhotep, who during life held the titles of "Chief of Perfumes" and "Head of the Wardrobe" (Filer 1996). Like the other sites, a costly limestone statue marked his place of burial and displayed his high position in society. His skeleton demonstrates the shortened limbs and the skull shape characteristic of dwarfism.
Figure 8 (Filer 1996: 54): Seneb and his family. Seneb's wife and children are of normal stature.
Figure 9 (Filer 1996: 58): Small figurine of Khnumhotep, an achondroplastic dwarf who achieved high status in Egypt
