Detail of Las Meninas by Diego Velazquez (1656), showing Maribarbola and Nicolasito Pertusato (right), achondroplastic dwarfs in the entourage of Infanta Margarita. The real life seven dwarfs
The real life seven dwarfs
Achondroplasia is a common cause of dwarfism. It occurs as a sporadic mutation in approximately 75% of cases, may be inherited as an autosomal dominant genetic disorder.
Many historians describe dwarfs in the courts of nobles. According to Pliny, Julia, Augustus’ niece, had a dwarf about 60 cm in service. Even among the Roman soldiers, were dwarfs about 90 cm tall. Also, the dwarfs, kept for fun were at the royal courts in Western Europe. In particular, the dwarfs served to Charles V, Catherine de Medici, Peter I, Anna Ioannovna, and Catherine the Great of Russia.
Of course, dwarfs were and are in modern times, and some of them are real stars. For example, Hagendra Tapa Magar, who became the record holder of the Guinness Book of Records on October 14, 2010. The man got the title of the smallest person in the world.
However, this post is about The Johnstons – the largest family of achondroplasia dwarfs in the world.
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