This document discusses the history and cultural significance of beards. It notes that beards were seen as symbols of sexual maturity and dominance in ancient times. Historically, high-ranking Egyptians dyed and plaited their beards with gold, and false metal beards were worn as symbols of sovereignty. Beards have gone in and out of fashion over the centuries in Western culture. Today, a variety of beard styles exist and personal preference determines whether one sports facial hair or remains clean shaven.

1. BEARDS
a series of fun facts

2. WHY BEARDS?!
www.ancientrobot.com

3. SEXUAL SELECTION
+ Women like beards (or at least
they used to)
+ Symbol of sexual maturity (rawr)
+ Symbol of dominance (increased
perceived jaw size)

4. HISTORICAL FUN FACTS
+ High ranking ancient Egyptians
dyed their beards and plaited them
with gold thread
+ Egyptians also sported false metal
beards (postiches) as a symbol of Historically accurate
sovereignty
+ The postiche was worn by kings,
queens and royal cows

5. HISTORICAL FUN FACTS
+ Alexander the Great ordered his
soldiers to be clean shaven
+ Shaving spread and became law in
some states Did you know William Shatner played Alexander
the Great in a TV show pilot in the 60s?
+ Philosophers retained their beards
as a badge of their profession
Socrates rocking his beard, here pictured with
Bill and Ted

6. HISTORICAL FUN FACTS
Beardage Througout Western History
1400s Clean Shaven FTW
1500s Seriously long beards
16 & 1700s No longer cool, banned
My boy John Knox
1800s Super cool again!
Dickens! Marx! Garibaldi!
1900s Invention of the safety razor,
MARKETING!

7. BEARDS TODAY
1900-1950s Clean Shaven FTW
1950s and 60s Beatniks and hippies
1970s Hair is cool, in all forms
1980s Ew! Gross!
Grunge to hipsters,
1990s - today
anything goes
PS: This guy.

8. SELECT STYLES
+ FULL: Downward flowing beard with either styled or
integrated moustache (ZZ TOP!)
+ VAN DYKE: Goatee with
accompanying moustache (EVIL GENIUS)
+ VERDI: Short beard with rounded
bottom and slightly shaven cheeks with
prominent moustache (HIPSTER)

9. WHAT DO THE LADIES
THINK?
Leonato: You may light on a husband that hath no beard.
Beatrice: What should I do with him? Dress him in my apparel and make him my
waiting-gentlewoman?
-Much Ado About Nothing – Act 2, Scene I

10. THANK YOU!
@SarahJaneMorris
http://sarah-janemorris.com