Lime Washed HairLime Washed Hair
| Lime-washed hair Even in northern Italy, where helmet finds are common, the vast majority of Celts wore no armour. Diodorus tells us that these warriors lime washed their hair and then combed it back from the forehead to the nape of the neck so that it looked like a horse's mane. Several coins show this style. This attempt to make the hair stand up like an angry animal is very primitive and may point to the origin of horsehair crests on helmets. (Peter Conolly F.S.A) Some of the reasons for spiking the hair are related to the head cult. The warrior class believed that the spirit of the person was in the head, and could be captured by cutting it off! Warriors heads that had been taken in battle were looked on as trophies. Those that were despised had their heads put on poles over the gates of the winners house. Warriors that fought bravely had their heads preserved. Some were pickled in oil and kept in wooden casks, and were brought out and displayed on special occasions. On the festival of Sahmain the heads were invited to the feast, and offered food and drink! (See Calendar for festivals) |
