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I have a book called Exploring the New Testament World by Albert A Bell, which is one of my favorites in our little library. So much of the bible can be better understood when put in the proper cultural context. This book does a fascinating job explaining the difference between Pharisees and Sadducees and Zealots, and just how the Romans governed Judea, and what Jesus would have eaten for breakfast.
And how Mary Magdalene might have worn her hair.
Which we all know is just as crucial as understanding the benefits of Roman citizenship. And perhaps holier.
The other night I came across some paragraphs regarding the very important aforementioned topic. Did you know that when wealthy women had busts of themselves carved and displayed in their homes, they had detachable marble wigs that could be updated as the styles changed? Because she wouldn't want her friends saying, "Oh my Zeus, Flavia's statue's updo was so. BC. Girl needs to get in the millennium."
Listen to this from Mr. Bell:
HA! So much for Texas big hair!! From now on, we'll call it Ancient Jewish Big Hair. Or Early Christian Big Hair.
Which confirms what a lot of y'all already knew: the higher the hair, the closer to Heaven.
17 Comments:
How I miss the big hair fad! My hair only does "big", so I have to tame her every day. *sigh*
Looks like a great book. I'm assuming it's for the older reader...do you read it with your kids at all?
ARG! I don't get the email option if I'm not already signed in.
hahahahaha! LOVE IT! I think I need to read that book. I am completely fascinated with historical/cultural context of the Bible.
I would have been shunned with my lack of hair fixing skills.... Hopefully I could have found a rich Roman sugar daddy who would've hired someone to help me out.
Man...doesn't that really help you understand some of Paul's exhortations to women...he never meant that we should have long scraggly hair...he just meant we shouldn't take hours and hours to fix it...LOL amazing and little fun fact...thanks for sharing :)s
They didn't have hot rollers either. It's amazing what ingenuity and a little slave labor can get you, isn't it?
I'm going to add that book to Corey's Christmas list. His teaching style is very expository, and he loves history. So this would make his day.
That was awesome!
Amen! I knew it had to be true.
I'm not sure which is more disturbing... having a marble bust of myself - OR - having interchangeable marble wigs. Fascinating.
This is the most fun post I've read today. And it was educational too!
Off to google that book now : )
I am so putting that book on my Amazon list. That and breaking out my Bumpits.
Love this! What a great and interesting post!
Wouldn't those marble wigs be heavy?? I mean, i know beauty is pain...but really!
(I know they were for the bust...:))
It's kinda depressing thinking that women were slaves to beauty even back in Jesus' day. So, it's not a new thing.
No, it's not a new thing at all, you are right on that Mama Belle. In fact we see this slavery to the beauty "industry" in the story of Esther, too, where girls are made to spend many, many months in beauty preparations before being presented to the king for their "try-out" date.
What's really sad is that here we are, thousands of years later, dealing with the same issue of comparing one another and ourselves based on the human idea of beauty and not the Lord's.
His is the only one that makes me feel good about myself, no matter what I do to keep up with the trends.
That was funny!
Hmmm. Since the clothing fashions of the 1980s are making a frightening comeback, perhaps the big hair will be back too? There isn't anything in that book about ancient Jewish shoulder pads, is there?!
Nancy
Sugar - I don't think kids would like it. But it is easy to read - good info, but not too textbook-y.
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