Royal beard

Head of a statue of Chephren , easy to recognize: the royal beard

The royal beard or pharaoh's beard was one of the pharaonic insignia in ancient Egypt and referred to a certain hairstyle in the form of a braided , artificial chin beard, which was attached to a fine strap around the face and was worn on ceremonial occasions, which is why the term "ceremonial beard" is common is. Royal beards have been documented since predynastics . Well-known kings who could be portrayed with beards are z. B. Narmer ( 1st Dynasty ), Djoser ( 3rd Dynasty ) and Ramses II ( 19th Dynasty ).

Also queens who held the power of government were depicted with the royal beard as an insignia of power. B. Chentkaus I ( 4th Dynasty ) and Hatshepsut ( 18th Dynasty ).

See also

• Cosmetics in ancient Egypt

literature

• Hermann A. Schlögl : Ancient Egypt. History and culture from the early days to Cleopatra. CH Beck, Munich 2006, ISBN 3-406-54988-8 , pp. 99-100.
• David P. Silverman (Ed.): Ancient Egypt. Oxford University Press, New York NY et al. 2003, ISBN 0-19-521952-X , pp. 108 and 186.
• Toby AH Wilkinson : Early Dynastic Egypt. Routledge, London et al. 1999, ISBN 0-4151-8633-1 . Pp. 103-105.
• Doreen Yarwood: The Encyclopedia of world costume. Scribner, New York NY 1978, ISBN 0-6841-5805-1 , pp. 32 and 142.