Men, does your weedy physique or receding hair line make you feel inadequate? Women, do you worry about wrinkles or whether to brave the pain of a bikini-line Brazilian wax? Ever feel that all of us, every day, are bombarded with images of physical perfection that are impossible to live up to?
Relax. In ancient Egypt they had it worse. A slim-waisted, broad-shouldered, muscular torso was the masculine ideal; both sexes wore elaborate wigs and oiled their skin to slow the signs of aging; women opted for total body-hair removal -- and wore pleated skirts open at the front to reveal the alluring result.
At first viewing, "Beauty in Ancient Egypt" seems an oddly specific title for the comprehensive exhibition of artifacts that opened Saturday at the Edo-Tokyo Museum. Although the items on display are all exquisite (and all drawn from the collection of the Roemer- und Pelisaeus-Museum, Hildesheim), they run the usual gamut from reliefs and statues, to sarcophagi and grave goods, to gods and amulets. With the exception of some exquisite jewelry and cosmetics cases, there is little here that speaks explicitly of ancient Egyptian culture's obsession with beauty.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.