The Beard
The Beard
| The Egyptians were very scrupulous about personal cleanliness, maybe this
can explain the custom, from the first dynasties, of cutting one’s hair and
shaving one’s face, something that went on until the New Reign. Only foreigners had beards and those who were so poor that they couldn’t afford a barber. In spite of this, one of the royal characteristics was the beard, that the pharaoh had pointed, wavy and rather long. But it was, actually a false beard, that was attached to the ears by a string, and was used only for celebrations or public appearances. Even the queen Hatshepsut wore it, using it as an emblem of the power she had with the pharaonic title. During the Middle Reign even the nomarchi and some officials wore a false beard, but it was shorter than the pharaoh’s. There were many barbers in ancient Egypt but their profession, among the most common, wasn’t very profitable. Often they worked outside, running from house to house to find customers, until late evening |
