Page:The philosophy of beards (electronic resource) - a lecture - physiological, artistic & historical (IA b20425272).pdf/46

 are also well furnished. And Æseulapius the God of Health,—significant fact!—is most abundantly endowed. The mother of Achilles, when supplicating Jupiter, touches his Beard with one hand, with the other his knee.

As might be supposed from their hardy characteristics, the Spartans especially cherished the Beard. When one Nieander was asked why? he replied, "because we esteem it the ornament that preeminently distinguishes man."

It being demanded of another why he wore so long a Beard? his noble reply was, "Since it is grown white, it incessantly reminds me not to dishonor my old age." Plutareh, after mentioning the bushy hair and Beard of the Spartan commander Lysander, says, "that Lycurgus was of opinion that abundance of hair and Beard made those who were fair, more so, and those who were ugly, more terrible to their enemies." Regarding shaving as a mark of slavish servitude, they compelled their chief magistrates to shave their upper lips during their term of office, to remind