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Miniatures Adventure => Age of Myths, Gods and Empires => Topic started by: cram on April 18, 2012, 10:58:08 AM

Title: ancient germans dyed red hair sources?
Post by: cram on April 18, 2012, 10:58:08 AM

I've read several sources that mention ancient Germans used to dye their hair red, but none give any details on the subject. I was wondering what they used to dye their hair with, and would it have turned out a bright red, would they have dyed their beards also? Just hoping someone has read something somewhere that answers these questions.

Thanks Marc.

Title: Re: ancient germans dyed red hair sources?
Post by: cram on April 18, 2012, 11:11:08 AM

Found this which is interesting regarding ancients people: http://martagundaker.hubpages.com/hub/Fooling-Mother-Nature-A-Short-History-of-Hair-Dyes  The part regarding Gauls and Anglo Saxons dying their hair bright orange or blue is very interesting! Ancient Germans are mentioned, but again no details given on what dye they would have used ect.

Title: Re: ancient germans dyed red hair sources?
Post by: Prof.Witchheimer on April 18, 2012, 02:16:30 PM

I've read about using of vegetable dyes like walnut shell and rhubarb for getting red.

Title: Re: ancient germans dyed red hair sources?
Post by: argsilverson on April 18, 2012, 02:31:56 PM

Not only vegetable materials, but also certain animals were used to extract dyes and ofcourse the vast range of inorganic metal oxides were commonly used.
Just to remind you the purple colour (extracted from the Murex shells), the indigo blue (from a plant), berry juices, yellow safran and so on.
Common cosmetics in the ancient world (even in prehistrory) were lead oxides, calcium hydroxide, carbon (from ash), shile eye lashes could have been colored using cobalt blue or malachite green etc. 

An interesting article from Science can give you some idea:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=ancient-hair-dye-harnesse

Title: Re: ancient germans dyed red hair sources?
Post by: inkydave on April 18, 2012, 03:14:57 PM

Who was that Roman officer of German descent who went rogue circa 1cAD ? Possibly Batavian, possibly took his German auxiliaries with him in his revolt. I cant remember his name for the life of me. He dyed his hair 'bright' red, including beard. Tacitus' Germania is the best period source IMHO. I think its got some descriptions of dyed hair in it. When describing British tribes(in Agricola), he says that the Caledonians have red hair LIKE THE GERMANS. But its probably a description of natural ginger hair.

Title: Re: ancient germans dyed red hair sources?
Post by: cram on April 18, 2012, 03:37:55 PM

Thanks for info.

http://www.missgien.net/batavians/civilis.html   inkydave I assume this is the guy you are referring too.

Title: Re: ancient germans dyed red hair sources?
Post by: inkydave on April 18, 2012, 06:39:47 PM

Quote from: cram on April 18, 2012, 03:37:55 PM

Thanks for info.

http://www.missgien.net/batavians/civilis.html   inkydave I assume this is the guy you are referring too.

Good call, thats the fellow. Forgot about the missing eye. He'd be great in 28mil.

Title: Re: ancient germans dyed red hair sources?
Post by: cram on April 18, 2012, 10:25:43 PM

Indeed he would look great in 28mil, Gorgon Studio's take note and add this fellow to your 'Ancient World' range.

Thanks again everyone for the info.

Title: Re: ancient germans dyed red hair sources?
Post by: Stecal on April 19, 2012, 01:16:58 AM

Old Glory already makes a 28mm Civilis figure in an eyepach in its Gaulish wars range

(http://www.pbase.com/stecal/image/111531673/large.jpg)

Title: Re: ancient germans dyed red hair sources?
Post by: cram on April 19, 2012, 11:05:40 PM

He's quite a nice looking figure thanks for letting me know.