Tresses and Distresses: Literary and Social Aspects of Women’s Hair in Second Temple Jewish Literature

This paper examines literary representations of women’s hair in Second Temple Jewish literature (STJL) and their signification of social categories, roles, and values. Referring solely to cephalic hair, some STJL texts adduce soft/fair hair as a mark of feminine beauty (e.g., 1QGenAp XX 3; Sib. Or. 3.123). Most depict a form of modification or supplementation indicative of a change in circumstances and/or status, however: fixing one’s coiffure/wearing one’s hair wild (e.g., Add Esth C.13), sullying/anointing (e.g., 3 Macc. 4:6), tearing/cutting (e.g., A.J. 16.214–217), or covering with a veil or a headdress/uncovering (e.g., Sus 31–33). These denote diverse social categories depending on the agent, context, and audience. Aseneth’s tearing of her hair in the privacy of her chambers marks her conversion from pagan to Jewess (Jos. Asen. 11:1), for example. The chopping off of Rome’s tresses by her mistress in Sib. Or. 3.359, in contrast, symbolizes humiliation and loss of status. Adopting classical literary models as well as biblical paradigms (cf. Jos. Asen. 15:3–5 with Isa 61:3; Iliad 22.468–472), STJL provides gendered portrayals unattested in the biblical text—such as women disheveling their hair in order to draw soldiers’ attention, excite pity, and elicit a favorable response (cf. 3 Macc 1:4 with Livy 7.40.12).