Pharaonic Beard

[rahorus]

My question is two fold;

Where did this idea, of strapping an artificial beard to the chin and why only the chin, originate from?

To what purpose?: Pharaoh had all the other trappings of kingship, the double crown, crook and flail and the entrenched and historical belief of divine descent.

Furthermore as a man pharaoh was quite able to grow his own authentic beard, so why a false one?

Regards

Rahorus

[Digit]

Most of your question I cannot answer, but one part I may be able to and that is that not all races produce sufficient facial hair to produce a decent beard.

Roy.

[MichelleH]

Here a little bit of insight.....

http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/beards.htm



PS: I'm moving this topic to the Old World forum

[Minimalist]

You know, Ra, I thought the question was very interesting. I spent some time on Google images reviewing egyptian tomb art, as this example



And noted that in all ages the Egyptians were depicted as clean shaven.

However, the same seems to be true of the Minoan (Cretan) wall art which has survived. As Dig suggested, perhaps it was a racial impossibility for them to grow beards?

Perhaps that gave the addition of a beard to the pharaoh some sort of symbolic status?

[Rokcet Scientist]

I'm guessing it was a mix: most men couldn't grow a decent beard anyway, especially if they were of Nubian descent, and only Pharaohs were allowed to sport one (usually fake), as a symbol of his position. Just like his double crown and his sceptres.

[gunny]

The beard must signafy an admiration of a previous leader much as the Kon Tiki did--Who were these ancient people who taught massive building skills and then left --has there been any paintings of Flying Saucers, cigar shaped aircraft, or halo shaped helmets such as we see in biblical angels?

[gunny]

We realize it is "Far Out" but SUDDENDLY neolithic tribe are building massive buildings UPWARD with gods that have beards---could it be, could it be---these gods came from above? Native Americans have stories about the Thunderbirds--large loud things that flew above them==think there is something to all these things--

[gunny]

There is a hellva lot of things were sttill do not know---Carthagenians perhaps?