The Religious and Ceremonial Significance of Beards
- Portrayal of beards in ancient art and artifacts
- Historical arguments for and against wearing beards
- Religious
- Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Islam, Ancient vs. Modern Christianity,
- Cultural
- Military
- Why is God portrayed as having a beard?
- Origins in Sumerian and other ancient art
- Greek portrayals of bearded gods
- Association with wisdom and maturity
- Synthesis of art-historical forms into contemporary portrayal of God
- What is an “evil” beard?
- The Devil
- Cartoon villains
- Explore physiognomy
- How do historical and religious factors influence whether beards are “in style”?
- Compare and contrast eras when beards were “in” and “out”.