[Glorantha] Call for Papers: First Digestive Symposium on, Contemporary Structuralist Pogonognomy and the Lunar Empire

Stew S wrote:

>The First Digestive invites scholars, layabouts and foreigners of any and
>all expertise to contribute essays on beard-styles and habits, both in the
>Lunar Empire within (inclusive of the Heartlands and Provinces) and without,
>and summarise for academic delectation investigations into the agency of the
>beard in magic and myth.
>
Mousiros the Learned comments:
"The style of beard is a useful indicator of the degree of incorporation of a people within the empire of the Blessed Lady of Crimson. As a general rule the more Lunarized the territory the less-likely the cultural norm to favour the beard.

There is a noted tendency within the suzerain territories such as Sartar and Talastar for the full, or so-called "barbarian" beard, to be most common among the menfolk. Indeed, if folk tradition is to be believed, the followers of the so-called "god of Knowledge" among these peoples are *required* to sport a full beard of this type, *irrespective* of their gender! Since their god seems to possess not the required magic for this pretence a simple, false,. woollen beard is alleged to serve for those not possessing manhood.

Among the peoples of the Provinces and the Satrapy of Syllila there seems to be a reluctance to wear the full beard, but a desire to not lose contact with the barbarous heritage of the peoples, and thus the so-called "half-beard", also known as the "bastard" or "goatee" beard [1] is to be found, both with and without the presence of the moustache. (Moustache taxonomy, is however, a separate field and beyond the bounds of this enquiry [2]).

In the heartlands of the empire the beard is generally not to be found among the populace, especially among the common folk, except, it is to be noted among the followers of the Solar divinities and the Carmanians of the Western Reaches, where it is deemed a marker of masculinity and virility, setting apart the overlords from the serfs and women. Moonson himself (PBUH) has been known to sport a full, "barbarian" beard as a sign of his mastery over them and the inclusivity of Our Lady in Crimson!

[1] the so-called "goatee" beard is prevalent among younger members of the Lunar Corps of Magicians and aspirant scholars. The reason for this remains unclear.

[2] As a general observation the presence of a beard, of any degree, *without* the presence of a moustache is limited to individuals of a conservative religious bent and is common only within the Redlands and upon the further eastern border of our lands."

Editors note: Mousiros the Learned (born 7/12, sports a "half-beard")

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*QED*
Quadruped Erat Demonstrandum
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