Hair, Hairstyles, and Headwear
Like clothing, hair (and hairstyles) is not something that often survives in the archaeological record. Thus, aside from the rare find of an intact mummy with a preserved head of hair, archaeologists must rely on hair accessories, pictures, and statues to the hair care and style practices of the ancient Near East. On display are artifacts from among these categories. Hair care and styling accessories include hair pins and combs. The figurine heads showcase hairstyles from the Greek and Roman periods, as do pictures #6, 8-9. Wigs, often made from human hair, were also a common accessory for women from the time of the ancient Egyptians on through the Roman Period. Finally, perfumes and precious olis were commonly used as hair care products and were made from various materials such as olive oil, beeswax, myrrh, and animal fat. The ancient Egyptians would even create a cone out of these materials and wear it on top of their wigs, as seen in picture #2, and let the heat of the sun melt it slowly throughout the day to consistently have the perfumed mix drip into their hair or wig.
Artifacts on Display:
Female Figurine Head
Date: possibly Roman Period (c. 1st century BC - 4th century AD)
Provenance: unknown
Composition: stone
Collection: on loan from the Cobb Institute of Archaeology at Mississippi State UniversityMirror
Date: c. 300-260 BC
Provenance: unknown
Composition: bronze
Collection: on loan from the Cobb Institute of Archaeology at Mississippi State UniversityHellenistic Female Figurine Head
Date: c. 2nd - 1st century BC
Provenance: unknown
Composition: clay
Collection: on loan from the Cobb Institute of Archaeology at Mississippi State UniversityHair Pin
Date: unknown
Provenance: unknown
Composition: bronze
Collection: on loan from the Cobb Institute of Archaeology at Mississippi State UniversityDouble-Sided Comb
Date: unknown
Provenance: unknown
Composition: wood
Collection: LCA Permanent CollectionComb
Date: Roman Period (c. 1st - 2nd century AD)
Provenance: unknown
Composition: bronze
Collection: on loan from the Cobb Institute of Archaeology at Mississippi State UniversityComb
Date: unknown
Provenance: unknown
Composition: wood
Collection: LCA Permanent CollectionPersian Hair Pin
Date: c. 500 BC
Provenance: unknown
Composition: silver
Collection: on loan from the Cobb Institute of Archaeology at Mississippi State UniversityEgyptian Female Figurine Head
Date: c. 1st - 3rd century AD
Provenance: unknown
Composition: clay
Collection: on loan from the Cobb Institute of Archaeology at Mississippi State UniversityApulian Female Figurine Head
Date: c. 3rd - 1st century BC
Provenance: unknown
Composition: clay
Collection: on loan from the Cobb Institute of Archaeology at Mississippi State UniversityBeeswax
Date: modern
Provenance: USA
Composition: beeswax
Collection: LCA CollectionMyrrh
Date: modern
Provenance: Israel
Composition: myrrh
Collection: Patterson Collection
Pictures on Display:
Merit's Human-Hair Wig from Her Tomb
Date: c. 1425-1353 BC (Dynasty 18, New Kingdom Period)
Provenance: Tomb of Kha and Merit, Deir el-Medina, Egypt
Composition: human hair
Collection: Egyptian Museum, Turin, ItalyDepiction of an Egyptian Woman with Perfumed Cone on Her Head
Date: c. 1422-1411 BC (Dynasty 18, New Kingdom Period)
Provenance: Tomb of Menna, Thebes, Egypt
Composition: paint
Collection: Tomb of MennaEgyptian Rosettes Headdress
Date: c. 1479-1425 BC (Dynasty 18, New Kingdom Period)
Provenance: Tomb of the Three Foreign Wives of Thutmose III, Thebes, Egypt
Composition: gold, gesso, carnelian, jasper, faience
Collection: Metropolitan Museum of ArtEgyptian Tweezers-Razor-Hair Curler in the Shape of a Jackal
Date: c. 1560-1479 BC (Dynasty 18, New Kingdom Period)
Provenance: Egypt
Composition: gold
Collection: Metropolitan Museum of ArtMesopotamian Queen Puabi's Headdress, Jewelry, Beaded Cape, and Belt
Date: c. 2600-2450 BC (Early Dynastic III Period)
Provenance: Tomb of Puabi, Ur, Iraq
Composition: gold, carnelian, and other stones
Collection: British Museum/University Museum Expedition to Ur, Iraq, 1928Fresco of Pompeian Woman Wearing a Golden Hairnet
Date: c. 50 AD
Provenance: Pompeii, Italy
Composition: fresco on gesso
Collection: Naples National Archaeological MuseumHellenistic Diadem
Date: c. 300-250 BC
Provenance: Lagrasta Tomb, Canosa, Italy
Composition: gold
Collection: Louvre Museum, Paris, FranceBust of Roman Woman with the Nodus Hairstyle (front and side view)
Date: c. 1st century AD
Provenance: unknown
Composition: stone
Collection: Royal Cast Collection, Copenhagen, DenmarkBust of Julia, the daughter of the Roman Emperor Titus (front and side view)
Date: c. 1st century AD
Provenance: unknown
Composition: stone
Collection: Royal Cast Collection, Copenhagen, Denmark