Henna: dressed to kill (7th c. B.C.E. and 17th c. C.E.)
Posted by Catherine Cartwright Jones on January 13, 2000 at 23:32:45:
In Reply to: adorned "advantage" posted by Michelle on January 12, 2000 at 06:07:41:
from "Body Marking in Southwestern Asia", Henry Field,Peabody Museum
Cambridge Massachusetts, 1958
referring to Persians warriors, 16th - 17th century
quoting Foster, Sir William, editor, <"Travels in Persia, 1627 -
1629" by D. Fouquet> 1928
"They (the Persian warriors) paint their nails and hands with alcanna
(henna ... into a red or tawny color, which besides the ornament it
gives, cools the liver and in war makes them (they say) valiant.
Their nails are discolored with white and vermilion but why so, I
cannot tell, unless it be in imitation of Cyrus, who as an
augmentation of honor commanded his great officers to tincture their
nails and faces with vermillion( henna), serving both to distinguish
them from the vulgar and (as did our warlike Britons) in fight appear
more terrible."
Now THERE'S provenance for an addition to the next SCAdian battle!
I'd also love to know more about Cyrus hennaeing for war.....sounds
like my fav henna Goddess, Anath