Egyptians are humorous and in fact they were lovers of fun and sarcasm since the beginning of history. The most well known goddess for joy and fun was Hathor who also was goddess of music to whom a lot of temples were dedicated. The second famous god in ancient Egypt was Bes the god of fun , joy and music who is originally was more African as he was represented as a pigmy god holding a harp. Some of the ancient papyri which date back to old kingdom around 2500 B.C describe the desire for the royal family to have African pigmies brought peacefully or else to Egypt where they be employed as clown and jesters. Actually some of those musicians and jesters were local dwarfs who became rich and well off. The Egyptian museum has an interesting collection of toys includes a wooden dancing pigmies toy operates by bulling the cords that are attached to the rotating discs where the pigmies are attached.
Another example found which is a carving from Hatshepsut temple represents the chief of Punt tribe and shows his wife with a deformed body followed by a inscription mocks at that situation.
By Yasser Kamel to Museumegypt, All rights reserved. Copyrig ©Musegypt.
