The rise of wigs
People have a long history of wearing wigs. According to data, as early as the ancient kingdom of Egypt (around 3 thousand BC), Egyptians began to use wigs; it is difficult for us to trace the first person to wear wigs and understand him. Motivation and social environment for wearing a wig. If you guess, people should first wear wigs to conceal the flaws in their hair. Historians point out that Egyptians wear wigs for the purpose of showing the social status of the wearer or to express certain religious beliefs, indicating that people wearing wigs are not simply to cover up personal needs such as hair loss or baldness. Because hair loss or baldness can give people an ugly look.
In fact, ancient people could not scientifically explain the causes of hair loss. Out of superstition, people attribute the natural phenomenon of hair loss to someone being punished by the devil, so baldness or bald head is not a simple indecent appearance, but evidence that the human soul is contaminated. In the ancient world, people cursed by gods will also be excluded from human companions. The pressure of public opinion formed by religious authority forces people to find ways to conceal their physical defects.
The traditional religions of ancient Rome had similar requirements, so the Romans had to fight hair loss. what else can we do? One is to re-grow the hair through chemical means. But under the ancient technical conditions, the effect of this method is difficult to guarantee. The second is camouflage, the appearance of wigs. Because this physical method can achieve immediate results, and it also has the function of beautifying hairstyles, it is even more popular. Wearing wigs at that time became a trend, especially among the upper-class nobles in Rome. It is said that Queen Faustina created a popular hairstyle with a wig in the 2nd century AD, and it flourished again in the 4th century.
Of course, wigs are not exclusive to women, and men have to fight hair loss. The Roman Emperor Otho has a record of wearing a wig because of his baldness. In this way, it seems that the wig is not a simple shame at first, but it complements the religious authority of classical religion and becomes a means of expressing the aesthetic appeal of the group.
In short, the ancient Egyptians wore wigs to distinguish high and low, rank, and to shape the glorious image of the pharaoh, which has political goals and social significance. In addition to wigs, pharaohs, male nobles and officials also wear fake beards, which are a symbol of identity and power.
