In Ancient Rome, with the increasing prosperity and splendor, fashion was born for all kinds of curiosities of nature. Plutarch mentions that in his time the highest prices at auctions were obtained for slaves with infirmities.
With time, a separate market was established in Rome, where dwarves, giants, hermaphrodites, limbs, etc. were brought. Their fate was to entertain guests with awkward demonstrations, fight and do acrobatics. Their other task was to stand like statues in the most bizarre poses. Some of them ended up as sexual toys of their masters.
