Little People - A tiny Street Art Collection (1 of 2) Homunculus. Alchemical processes were symbolically illustrated using images of humans and animals inside of vessels.
This contributed to the legend of the homunculus.[1] (Pretiosissimum Donum Dei 15th century.) Homunculus (masculine, Latin for "little man", plural: "homunculi"; from the diminutive of homo) is a term used, generally, in various fields of study to refer to any representation of a small human being. Popularized in sixteenth century alchemy and nineteenth century fiction, it has historically referred to the creation of a miniature, fully formed human. The concept has roots in preformationism as well as earlier folklore and alchemic traditions. Homunculi.