SELECTED STUDIES
The distinguished international Egyptologist Prof. Zahi Hawass raises an interesting scientific question. Is the "dancing dwarf" Per-ni-ankh-w the father of Seneb? He sends an invitation to all scholars and scientists to visit the "Hidden Treasure" exhibit at Cairo Museum and try to solve this puzzle. - The Ambassadors Research Foundation
The Dancing Dwarf
By
Prof. Zahi Hawass
On
the Giza plateau in the western field of the Great Pyramid of Khufu is the
Cemetery of the Dwarfs. In ancient Egypt Dwarfs played a significant role in the
court of the king. They held different positions at the royal court such as,
entertainers for the royal family, craftsmen who did specialized work on fine
jewelry, cared for the favorite pets of the king, and household servants. A few
years ago while cleaning the area in the western field that was previously used
by Reisner and Junker as an area where they deposited their excavation debris, I
had a great surprise. I discovered the magnificent statue of Per-ni-ankh-w. I
will never forget the day I found the “Dancing Dwarf.”
As
we were cleaning the area we discovered a Dynasty 4 limestone tomb with two
false doors. On the drums of the doors, inscribed in hieroglyphs was the name
“Per-ni-ankh-w.” On the top of the mastaba we found three shafts, one
contained the skeleton of a dwarf and the other two contained skeletons of
women. Statues of the two women were found in niches by the two false doors.
This was an incredible discovery and yet, the best was still yet to come.
As
I walked to the north side of the tomb I found a niche that was covered by a
limestone slab that was inscribed, “The dancing dwarf, Per-ni-ankh-w.”
There was a small slit in the limestone slab. I pressed my face against the slab
and looked through the slit and I was amazed to see the eyes of the Dancing
Dwarf looking back at me.
The beautiful statue of Per-ni-ankh-w is made of black basalt. He is seated on a chair and wears a curly wig and short kilt. His neck is short and thick and the features of his face are very realistic. He is holding a staff in his left hand and a baton of authority in his right hand. Although his upper body appears normal, his legs show a deformity, they are slightly bowed and appear slightly different in size and form. The dwarf is handsome with a look of quietness and serenity. Yet in this simple elegance is strength and power: a young face, yet wise. Even though he is deformed and injured, the statue conveys the impression of a healthy man. Both sides of his chair are inscribed with his name and titles, “The dancing dwarf in the Great Palace, the one who pleased his majesty everyday, Per-ni-ankh-w.”
This discovery reminded me of another famous dwarf from ancient Egypt, the dwarf Seneb. His tomb is located near the tomb of Per-ni-ankh-w and I believe they are related. Per-ni-ankh-w could be the father of Seneb. The remarkable statue of Seneb has always been one of my favorites at the Egyptian museum. It shows Seneb, sitting on a chair with his wife embracing him and his children are standing under him, resembling two legs.
You can visit the dancing dwarf, Per-ni-ankh-w in the Hidden Treasure exhibit located in the basement of the Egyptian Museum.
Further Readings:
Veronique Dasen (1993). Dwarfs in Ancient Egypt and Greece (Oxford Monographs on Classical Archaeology). New York: Oxford University Press.
Prof. Zahi Hawass, the international Egyptologist, is the Egyptian Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities with a plethora of publications. Readers are advised to visit his very interesting official website "The Plateau" at http://www.guardians.net/hawass/.
