In the ancient world physical beauty was highly admired, often to excess. Focusing on those whose appearance did not conform to the "ideal proportion," this book examines dwarfs in myths and everyday life in ancient Egypt and Greece. Dasen covers areas such as the history of caricature and the portrait; medical history, in particular the development of the perception of congenital disorders; social history; and history of religion, with questions on the magical and ritual efficacy of the malformed in sacred and theatrical contexts. This unique and fascinating work provides a wealth of insights for those interested in the history of medicine or the ancient world.