Originally posted by Quetzalcoatl
[quote] went to look at the Bayeaux tapestry and so far i have seen 4 depictions of beards: once on Edward the Confessor, one ship builder(Norman), once on a servant(Norman) and once on an English soldier. Four times out of all those dozens of depictions, and no real difference between Norman and Englishmen. Really the number of people depicted with substantial facial hair is tiny. Given there are a fair number of moustaches, but the lack of beards in depiction shows people being depicted were depicted in a more idealized fashion than the reality of the day would have provided for. Here's a link if you want to examine the tapestry: http://hastings1066.com/baythumb.shtml
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there is a need to understand how to analyse this tapestry correctly.
1. The tapestry is from a norman POV so basically most of the scene will depict normans and how normans monks (who gave the instruction to the makers of the tapestry) thought of the anglo-saxons. Beard was simply not as common as you think in this area of France. Many statues and pictures of this time depicts the poeple as having no facial hair except moustache. The 9th century statue of Charlemagne proves my point.
2. It is a broidery expect it to lack some details, but it is clear the saxons have beards. Edward the confessor was possibly a well known figure so he is portrayed more accurately, you getting my point.
3. also look at all the details, you'll notice some of the saxons are made to look like normans (similar helmets similar armour), the reason for that again it is from a norman POV. But they got many thing rights also, like the huskarl using double handed axe.
You got to understand it is not a perfect source of information (just like newspapers nowadays, it is all about the reporter perspective) but it is the best available and of great precision in details. . So it is better to base knowledge from the tapestry than from an historian speculating about the matter. Well you analyse the tapestry think of yourself as a norman monks, it will be all clear.