'Hairdo archaeologist' solves ancient fashion mystery

BBC via Drudge Report / www.drudgereport.com ^ | 26 May 2013 Last updated at 18:51 ET | Produced by the BBC's Peter Murtaugh

[thecodont]

[Janet] Stephens is a hairstyle archaeologist who specialises in recreating how women in ancient Rome and Greece wore their hair.

She spoke to the BBC about a museum visit that marked the start of a long journey of discovery on which she solved a historical mystery and had her work published in an academic journal.

[Fai Mao]

Interesting enough.
The more things change the more they stay the same I guess

[Beowulf9]

That was fascinating! I have always wondered if anyone knew how to do these hairstyles the Roman women wore that were so elaborate. I’ve noticed they are not reproduced anywhere and felt likely no one really does know how.

Well, how wonderful this woman has figured out some and is now working on it. It’s a valuable contribution to archeology and maybe someday we’ll see some of these hairstyles reproduced in the modern world.

[SubMareener]

This is an interesting lesson because up until now, no one who actually was a hair stylist had investigated how they styled their hair in ancient times.

[EDINVA]

I thought thought the interview and how she went about her research was interesting. She claims she’s not a good writer, that she’s a hairdresser, but she sure is articulate.
AND, she DID get published in a scholarly journal!

[Huskrrrr]

Very interesting, she makes more sense than some of the pedigreed eggheads. I’ve always been a fan of tight buns.

[bigheadfred]

what impresses me is it didnt take hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to discover this

[bigheadfred]

what impresses me is it didnt take hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to discover this

[thecodont]

This is an interesting lesson because up until now, no one who actually was a hair stylist had investigated how they styled their hair in ancient times.

I like when she had that "Aha!" moment when she compared the braided bun to the braided rugs she'd seen her grandmother make.

[SunkenCiv]

GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother & Ernest_at_the_Beach	join list or digest view topics view or post blog bookmark post a topic subscribe
Thanks thecodont. To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.

[afraidfortherepublic]

I love this! I wish that I had hair that would lend itself to this.

[yarddog]

I remember seeing paintings on the walls of the palace at Knossos in Crete in my high school history books. There were girls with beautiful hairdos.

They looked very modern and elaborate.

[kaehurowing]

Just FABULOUS!

[La Lydia]

Awesome. An entire story that did not have one cringe-worthy element. How pleasant to read about something like that.

[thecodont]

The Apostles warned the women of the congregation to not be overly obsessed with mere outward appearances, including the “braiding of the hair” (1 Peter 3:3, 1 Timothy 2:9).

[tbw2]

There are videos on youtube of how she recreates these hair styles.
The Roman one worn by the Vestal Virgins seems to be designed to make an elegant braid around the top of the head without any bangs getting into the eyes.

[Bigg Red]

What a neat story. Smart woman.

[Bigg Red]

Yes, I thought that, too. Very articulate.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks yd. There’s long been discussion on the veracity of those reconstructed murals.

[SunkenCiv]

The Joann Fletcher keyword:

• Found: Queen Nefertiti's Mummy [sic]
• Nefertiti mummy 'found in Egypt' [sic]
• Teasing The Sun (Nefertiti)
• Theban Mapping Project (Valley of the Kings etc)
• Case closed on the end of King Tut (Scan Suggests No Murder)
• In Egypt, the Pharaohs' outspoken defender kicks up a dust storm [ Zahi Hawass ]
• Manchester University Helps With Pharaoh Analysis (Hatshepsut)