I read an article in some magazine this week about what ancient Romans and Greeks thought about hair and shaving and I thought it was really interesting. I have been trying to rack my brain and find out which magazine has the article but until then, here are some interesting thoughts. An absence of body hair has been a European ideal since the Greeks and Romans. 
In Roman times, the first shave of a youth came to be regarded as the arrival of masculine adulthood and was offered as a token to his favorite god. This occured in 300 B.C.
Young men about age twenty-one are required to have their first shave. They kick this off by celebrating their official entry into manhood with an elaborate party-like ritual. Other guy friends are invited to watch and give the novice shavee a bunch of nice gifts. Only soldiers and those training to become philosophers are excused from participating in this cultural ordeal.
Earlier in 500 B.C. - In Greece, it was popular for men to crop hair very short and shave the face. Alexander the Great is pretty much the guy responsible for this trend because he is obsessed with shaving. He even shaves during wartime, and will not allow himself to be seen going into battle with a five o’clock shadow. Greeks back then considered it an aesthetic approach to personal hygiene, like the Middle Eastern cultures. (Like seriously? This homo wouldn't go into battle unless looking good).
This photo depicts Narcissus captivated by his own reflection.
And I still see nothing wrong with it up to this day. Although, there are certain guys who can actually carry a goatee and/or a 5 o'clock shadow.
Posted by: Groove | April 08, 2005 at 04:02 PM