LONG HAIR A SIGN OF RANK

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 21 January 1931, Page 10

LONG HAIR A SIGN O F RANK

The ancient Egyptians, in the case of young children, were wont to shave the head, leaving only a few locks on the front, sides and back, as an emblem of youth. In the case of royal children, (lie locks on the sides wore covered and enclosed in a bag, which hung down conspicuously as a badge of princely rank. The Egyptians used also to tie upon the chill a false beard made of plaited hair, and of a peculiar form, according to the person by whom it was worn. T hat of a king was of considerable length, square at tho bottom; while private individuals had small hoards ,scarcely two indies long. The Parthians and ancient Persians 'of high rank wore long, (lowing hair. Homer speaks of “the long-haired Greeks” hv way of honourable distinction. Subsequently the Athenian cavalry wore long hair, and all Lacedaemonian soldiers did the same. The Gauls considered long hair a notable honour, for which reason Julius Caesar obliged them to cut off their hair in token of submission. The Franks and ancient Germans considered long hair a mark of noble birth. Hence Clodion the Frank was called “The Long-Haired.” The Goths regarded long hair as a mark of honour, and short hair as a symbol of thraldom. For many centuries long hair was the distinctive mark of the* Royal family of Franco, the kings and the princes of the blood having to wear “long hair artfully dressed and curled.” Heards were frequently worn as badges of royalty or rank, and the heard was retained by nearly all our kings as an emblem of their position.”