The bearded man

"The beard as a sex sign in the middle of the face is obscene. Therefore it pleases the women." This was Arthur Schopenhauer's disparaging comment on male beard growth. Whether a symbol of masculinity, an expression of dignity and wisdom, or a demonstration of power, the beard has been attributed different meanings throughout history. While in the ancient Egyptians only the pharaohs adorned themselves with beards, in Hellenistic Greece it was considered necessary to shave one's beard smooth, following the example of Alexander the Great. Not infrequently, the beard even became a social exclusion criterion: in 16th-century France, bearded men were denied access to courtrooms, and in Russia under Peter the Great, a beard tax was even levied. Barbara Martin humorously sketches the social significance of the beard from ancient Egypt through the French Revolution to the present day. With numerous color illustrations and all kinds of interesting facts about the beard.