False+Beard

The False Beard

Although beards were popular with ancient Egyptian men during the Predynastic period, by the 1st Dynasty it had become fashionable to shave off all facial hair. Despite this, a closely plaited beard was strongly associated with divinity, worn by gods such as Ptah, Amun, Nun, Min, and Atum. Sphinxes often wore a beard as well. For this reason, the pharaoh would wear a ceremonial false beard in certain situations to emphasize his god-like qualities. Even queens, such as Hatsheput, sometimes wore this beard.

Secured by a cord behind the ears, this false beard was often made of goat hair and was wider at the bottom than the top. When deceased, the pharaoh was often depicted as Osiris, and so wore the Osiriform beard, which was long and narrow with a curl at the end. The faces of coffins belonging to men often bore the false beard of Osiris.

Egyptian Symbols