BARBERS IN EGYPTIAN CIVILISATION-An Article By Venkatachalapathi.P.B.- Davangere
Barbers in Egyptian Civilization
The researchers state that the ancestors of human beings from all parts of the world are the origin of the Egyptian part of Africa. Historians believe that Egyptian civilization existed in the region of Egypt's Nile River in Africa from 9300 BC to 4000 BC. However, the changes in the path of the River Nile over time leave no evidence to prove the existence of that civilization. About 5000 years ago, in ancient Egypt, civilization existed. Egyptian civilization is one of the world's oldest civilizations, which existed on the banks of the Nile River. They made many contributions to the world in the fields of Politics, Religion, Social systems, etc. They are very famous for their pyramid structures. As in India, they are also divided into social structures. They are classified as the top-level Kings, Priests, and Nobles. On the next level, Officers, Soldiers, etc next level they group Merchants, Farmers, etc, at the bottom of the group, Servants, and Slaves.
Ancient Egyptians gave more importance to cleanliness and beauty. Some things found in some tombs and some papyrus (One type of wood used as paper and used for making things) in ancient Egypt, containing olive oil and other oils, show how much importance they gave to their hair care and following different hairstyles. To them, the long, thick, well-dressed hair represented strength, power, and beauty, whereas the removal of hair and hair loss symbolized purification, punishment, or shame.
To any person, hair and hairstyles are very important to their beauty and appearance. During that time, hairdressers used to cut unwanted hair with sharp objects such as Ouster shells, stone razors, swords, animal teeth, and nails etc.
Ancient Africans believed that the soul of negative energy enters the human body through their hair. Therefore, the hairs were tied tight so that no devil could enter the body. They also believed that the evils would exit from the body if they spread their hair and danced and tied it again. This task has to be performed by an authoritative person, like a priest or barber. Barbers' services were necessary for these situations. The barber, as a priest, helps such persons by a tie or removing hair and performs worship and ritual. They thought of the barber as a troubleshooter who protects the person from these evils. For these reasons, the barber profession was given much importance in ancient Egypt.
The heat of the African desert conditions made shorter hair more comfortable. Initially, they used heated beeswax, razors, and blades, using small tongs and sharp knives, to remove hair. In Egyptian civilization in the 3500 BCE (Bronze Age), barbers used bronze razors, and then they started using iron razors. They were using metal mirrors and combs made from wood, bones, or ivory.
Ancient Egyptian metal mirror
Men's Hairstyles in Ancient Egypt
In ancient Egypt, a person with long hair was highly respected. This is because a person with long and dark hair is thought to be intelligent and capable. The “Osiris,” an ancient Egyptian god of death, had long and colored hair; therefore, to satisfy that god, they maintained thick, long, and colored hair and adorned their hair with ornaments. They believe that by doing this, Osiris, the god, would be pleased and give a good position in heaven after the death of that person. They dye their hair even after death to put their dead bodies (Mummies) in pyramids.
In ancient Egypt, Baldness was looked down upon. To hide baldness, they use wigs prepared from human or animal hair. A male body from a working-class cemetery in Hierakonpolis, dated around 3500 B.C., had a sheepskin toupee used to hide a bald spot. Men were usually clean-shaven and sported both long and short hairstyles. The priests of the Amman temple used to remove all the hair from their bodies once every three days for their purification
Women's Hairstyles in Ancient Egypt
In the Old Kingdom, Egyptian civilization women followed shortcuts or chin-length bobs, which are suitable for hot weather. In the New Kingdom, women preferred long hair with or without curling. They also use wigs and Hair extensions to display their long hair hairstyles. Hair dyes were used first time in Egyptian civilization. Hair dyeing with henna is very common for them. Women sometimes wore long things in their hair. There is evidence that a lot of influence of other cultures on Egyptian hairstyles. One example is the cultural union of the Roman Empire and the Egyptian Empire. There is evidence of a female mummy wearing a typically Roman hairstyle, yet the iconography on her death mask was plainly Egyptian. For decorating the hairstyle, they use petals, berries, Flowers, linen ribbons, Ivory, and metal Hairpins, etc.
At Tell el-Daba in Egypt, there was a statue portraying a man wearing a mushroom hairstyle that was typical of Asian males. There is a statue of a young woman in the Ptolemaic period (304–30 B.C.) exhibiting a typical Nubian hairstyle consisting of five small clumps of hair.
The most famous Egyptian queen, Cleopatra, used to style her hair according to the political requirement to convey a specific message. She followed the traditional Egyptian “melon” style when she was in Egypt to hide that she had Greek roots. When she traveled outside of Egypt, she wore the hairstyle of a Greek queen, with her hair sectioned into curls and arranged in a bun at the back of the neck.
Children's Hairstyles in Ancient Egypt
The hairstyles of ancient Egyptians changed with age. Both boys and girls also shaved their heads, except for a small braid worn on the side. This braid was called the “Lock of Youth” and was kept until puberty. After puberty, boys and girls adopted traditional men’s and women’s hairstyles.
In Egyptian civilization, Male barbers, in addition to Barbering, also do medical practices. Women of the barber families served as Nurses, Midwives, Women hairdressers, Beauticians, etc. They are also engaged in the preparation of Wigs and Hair extensions.
The statue of Meryma’at, a 19-inch tall which is over 3200 years old, is said to be the statue of the person who took the responsibility of shaving the priests of Egypt’s ancient Amman temple every three days.
Sculpture of the Barber Meryma’at, about 3200 years old
Image of Wigs used in ancient Egypt
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