Chapter 1: The Living Crown

The human body is a living testament, a sacred text written in flesh and bone. Every feature, from the spiral of the fingerprint to the rhythm of the heartbeat, carries a deeper meaning, a story waiting to be read. But of all the body’s features, none is more visible, more symbolic, or more politically charged than the hair that grows from the head. It is the body’s most immediate and powerful statement of identity. For some, it is the living crown.

 

For millennia, across cultures and civilizations, hair has been understood as a physical extension of our thoughts, a manifestation of our spirit, and a conduit for divine power. It is not merely a collection of dead protein strands; it is a living, growing antenna that connects us to the world around us and the cosmos above. The length, texture, and style of one’s hair have been used to signify royalty, wisdom, strength, and spiritual devotion. From the flowing locks of the Nazirite to the elaborate braids of African queens, the crown of hair has always been a symbol of one’s place in the social and spiritual order.

 

In the ancient world, this understanding was universal. The Ancients of Egypt (Kemet), with their deep knowledge of science and spirituality, held the hair in the highest esteem. The elaborate wigs worn by ‘pharaohs’ (nswt bjtj) and nobles "ḥr"(pronounced "her") were not just fashion accessories; they were symbols of their divine authority, their connection to the gods - “hair”.

 

These wigs were made from primarily sheep’s wool, plant fibres such as palm leaves and human hair. When it came to the hair texture of the crown, the ancients were very specific about the texture of the crown, as this rite held deep spiritual meaning which we’ll explore in a little more detail later on.

 

The Nemes headdress (ḥm.t nṯr), with its distinctive stripes, was a stylized representation of a lion’s mane, a symbol of courage and royalty and also the head/hood of the ‘cobra’ (wꜥdjt), symbolizing protection and sovereignty. The cobra was also associated with wisdom. The word cobra is from the Latin word ‘Colub.ra’ meaning serpent. The word ‘Colub’ in Latin means ‘snake’ or ‘serpent’ with the addition of ‘Ra’, we get ‘colubra’.  Another word often used in relation to the cobra (wꜥdjt), is ‘Uraeus’ (U.ra.eus) thematically speaking, ‘fiery serpents’. The hair, whether natural or in the form of a wig, was a critical component of the royal regalia, as essential as the scepter or the throne. `[1]`

 

This reverence for hair was not limited to royalty. The common people of Kemet also understood the power of their hair, styling it in intricate braids and locs that were both beautiful and meaningful. These styles were not just a matter of personal taste; they were a form of non-verbal communication, a way of expressing one’s identity, marital status, and social standing. The hair was a living canvas, a story told in coils and curls; and among the descendants of Kemet, hair was revered just as much then as it is today.