Old faces, New faces

[ Follow-ups ] [ Post Follow-up ] [ The Henna Page Discussion Forum ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by Catherine Cartwright Jones on December 24, 1999 at 17:17:32:

In the current Vogue Magazine, p. 374, showing some of Galliano's
newest gear, two of the models have gold spots on their forehead.
Very spiff makeup.....and either the cosmetics person has been reading
some of the same books I have looking for henna, or co-incidentally
came up with a similar ideaa.

In the 3nd c. CE, some of the mummy cases in Roman Egypt show women
with hennaed hands and gold ornamentation on their faces. When Marcus
Antonius Aurelius (Elagabalus)entered Rome as emperor, 218 CE., he had
hennaed hands and gold ornamentation on his face. He was from Syria,
and the gold face and henna were part of his presenting himself as the
leader (high priest) of a Mithraic solar cult. In Syria, it made
sense for the leader of the people to assume the personna of the head
deity, but in Rome, such was universally scorned. He didn't last.
He was murdered and out by 222 CE. However, the solar deity he
promoted (and hennaed in honor of) , did stay in the Roman pantheon,
as Sol Invictus.

(When a Christian pope in the 5th c CE (I think, the date is somewhere
around here) was trying to expand the popularity of Christianity, he
put the celebration of the Nativity of Christ right near the very
popular winter solstice celebration of Sol Invictus. I wish I knew if
people hennaed for the Sol Invictus winter solstice celebration. It
seems very likely, but Mithraic artifacts and texts are near
nonexistant. It would be a great excuse to henna for Christmas!

Another link to those Galliano golden faces is from Palestine in the
last century. (Back to Lebanon and Syria again) Brides, at the night
of the henna, after being hennaed, got their faces done too.... all
their friends would come and put little patches of gold leaf on their
faces (gold leaf like you use in medieval manuscripts ... finely
feather light bits of pounded real gold) until the bride's face "shone
like the sun". I can't say whether that is a remnant of the solar
henna traditions, or whether it was simply similar to the numerous
traditions of presenting a bride with gold coins. Could be either or
both. Must have looked wonderful, though!

Follow-ups:

Zauder's makes gold, too! anita 17:59:07 12/24/99 (1)
- Re: Zauder's makes gold, too! Kenzi 03:37:52 1/04/00 (0)

Post a Follow-up

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: In the current Vogue Magazine, p. 374, showing some of Galliano's : newest gear, two of the models have gold spots on their forehead. : Very spiff makeup.....and either the cosmetics person has been reading : some of the same books I have looking for henna, or co-incidentally : came up with a similar ideaa. : In the 3nd c. CE, some of the mummy cases in Roman Egypt show women : with hennaed hands and gold ornamentation on their faces. When Marcus : Antonius Aurelius (Elagabalus)entered Rome as emperor, 218 CE., he had : hennaed hands and gold ornamentation on his face. He was from Syria, : and the gold face and henna were part of his presenting himself as the : leader (high priest) of a Mithraic solar cult. In Syria, it made : sense for the leader of the people to assume the personna of the head : deity, but in Rome, such was universally scorned. He didn't last. : He was murdered and out by 222 CE. However, the solar deity he : promoted (and hennaed in honor of) , did stay in the Roman pantheon, : as Sol Invictus. : (When a Christian pope in the 5th c CE (I think, the date is somewhere : around here) was trying to expand the popularity of Christianity, he : put the celebration of the Nativity of Christ right near the very : popular winter solstice celebration of Sol Invictus. I wish I knew if : people hennaed for the Sol Invictus winter solstice celebration. It : seems very likely, but Mithraic artifacts and texts are near : nonexistant. It would be a great excuse to henna for Christmas! : Another link to those Galliano golden faces is from Palestine in the : last century. (Back to Lebanon and Syria again) Brides, at the night : of the henna, after being hennaed, got their faces done too.... all : their friends would come and put little patches of gold leaf on their : faces (gold leaf like you use in medieval manuscripts ... finely : feather light bits of pounded real gold) until the bride's face "shone : like the sun". I can't say whether that is a remnant of the solar : henna traditions, or whether it was simply similar to the numerous : traditions of presenting a bride with gold coins. Could be either or : both. Must have looked wonderful, though!

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

[ Follow-ups ] [ Post Follow-up ] [ The Henna Page Discussion Forum ] [ FAQ ]