Adornment

The special interest of the Byzantines towards beauty can be detected throughout the Byzantine Empire. The importance of the adornment is evident not only in the material remains of the period but also in the constant admonitions for the opposite by the Church Fathers.

One of the main features of their appearance was the hair, basic tools for the care of which were combs and scissors. The haircuts were usually done at home by slaves, as barbers and hairdressers would be employed by the lords. They even used special ointments and hot irons to curl their hair or they dyed them blonde in order to look better.

Men too took care of their hair. Depending on their origin, social status and preferences, they had short or long hair, or they used wigs. The majority of men, excluding the eunuchs of the palace, had a beard.

Byzantine women kept their hair long wearing them in a modest way by holding them in place with a hairpin, or braiding them, while young girls let them fall freely on the shoulders.

They cut their hair only in mourning or as punishment for moral misconduct. They paid special interest with their facial. For example they shaved or removed their facial hair and they wore make up using white, black and red shades, which caused strong criticism by the Church Fathers.

Common in both men and women was the use of perfumes. The essences they used came from flowers, such as lilies, myrtles, roses, etc., many of which came from distant countries. Men also used to put essences on their hair in order to make them shine, causing reactions on behalf of the Church.

Women wore all types of jewelry; luxury ones made of gold and silver and decorated with gemstones or more simple ones made of iron, copper and glass. There was great variety to choose from: earrings, chains, necklaces, bangles, bracelets, brooches; there were even jewelry for elbows and feet! One of the favorites for both sexes was undoubtedly the ring.

It seems that women of the period used jewelry, clothing and toiletries, not only as means to improve their appearance, but also as indicators of their social status.

1. Δετοράκης, Θ., Ο γυναικείος καλλωπισμός στα πατερικά και αγιολογικά κείμενα, Institute of Historical Research, Department of Byzantine Research, Athens, 1989

2. Εμμανουήλ, Μ., Γυναικείες κομμώσεις και κεφαλόδεσμοι στο Βυζάντιο, 2002

3. Byzantine Women and Their World, New Haven and London, 2009

4. Κουκουλές Φ., Βυζαντινών Βίος και Πολιτισμός, Παπαζήση, Athens, 1954

5. ‘Τα εν οίκω...εν δήμω’ in Ψηφίδες του Βυζαντίου, Athens