DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.68501#0035
INTRODUCTION.
15
subjects by violence, since they would not part with
them quietly. Perhaps this despotic ruler was of the
same opinion respecting them as Alexander, who
ordered all the Macedonians to be shaved, lest the
length of their beards should afford a handle to their
enemies I
The Eastern nations are remarkable for the length
of their beards. Formerly, the kings of Persia, and
even some of the earlier monarchs of France, wore
them plaited, and woven with gold thread. To the
present day, in Persia, a barber is a man of great
importance, as he must not only be well versed in the
intricacies of his art, but also be very trustworthy,
particularly he to whose care is entrusted the beard of
the king—the pride of the nation.
In India, there is a nation who devote their beards
and whiskers to the goddess of destruction, and who
look upon the preservation of life even as of slight
importance, when compared with the loss of one hair
from their beards.
At one time, beards and unshaven chins were, by
different nations, looked upon as signs of grief and
mourning, — as they are by the Jews of the present
day. When the Roman people adopted shaving, they
wore beards to mark any great sorrow. The Greeks,
on the contrary, if in any deep affliction, shaved off the
beard. Among the ancient Egyptians, the priests
alone appeared with smooth chins. All slaves, in the
time of the Romans, had long beards and flowing
tresses; and, when made freemen, they shaved, and
covered their heads. The abolition of the beard
among the Greeks took place, it is said, about the
time of Alexander; among the Romans, about the
15
subjects by violence, since they would not part with
them quietly. Perhaps this despotic ruler was of the
same opinion respecting them as Alexander, who
ordered all the Macedonians to be shaved, lest the
length of their beards should afford a handle to their
enemies I
The Eastern nations are remarkable for the length
of their beards. Formerly, the kings of Persia, and
even some of the earlier monarchs of France, wore
them plaited, and woven with gold thread. To the
present day, in Persia, a barber is a man of great
importance, as he must not only be well versed in the
intricacies of his art, but also be very trustworthy,
particularly he to whose care is entrusted the beard of
the king—the pride of the nation.
In India, there is a nation who devote their beards
and whiskers to the goddess of destruction, and who
look upon the preservation of life even as of slight
importance, when compared with the loss of one hair
from their beards.
At one time, beards and unshaven chins were, by
different nations, looked upon as signs of grief and
mourning, — as they are by the Jews of the present
day. When the Roman people adopted shaving, they
wore beards to mark any great sorrow. The Greeks,
on the contrary, if in any deep affliction, shaved off the
beard. Among the ancient Egyptians, the priests
alone appeared with smooth chins. All slaves, in the
time of the Romans, had long beards and flowing
tresses; and, when made freemen, they shaved, and
covered their heads. The abolition of the beard
among the Greeks took place, it is said, about the
time of Alexander; among the Romans, about the