A Rare and Suspect Color
Both Greek and Roman culture were astute in noticing red hair was more prevalent in certain climates. The philosopher Aristotle noted that those living in northerly climes, as well as fishermen and divers usually had red hair. He reasoned this was because the moist environment both parties frequented made them chilly individuals but that their outer parts became red when they dried off in the sun! Vitruvius also made a similar but less fanciful observation, attributing red hair to the dampness of the climate because this made individuals living there more ‘moist.”
However, despite these rare attempts to rationalize red hair, ancient accounts emphasize certain traits as prevalent in redheads. As well as describing the Gauls, Germans, and Celts as predominantly red-headed – something that wasn’t true for everyone- the ancient writers portrayed them as warlike and uncivilized.
These portrayals were reflections of inbuilt classical preconceptions of redheads. Aristotle, while acknowledging the bravery of tawny-headed individuals because the color of their hair matched that of the pelt of a lion, also believed they were evil characters- because their hair color also matched that of a fox. The Romans also had quite a contradictory attitude to fiery hair. Once again, they regarded redheads, as untrustworthy- yet red hair was also desirable, as many Roman ladies aspired to it, prompting Roman wig makers to import quantities of red hair from northern Europe.
The Classical suspicion of redheads probably derived from the fact red hair was so rare in the Mediterranean regions. Although Archaic Greek texts like the Iliad refer to Greek heroes such as Achilles and Menelaus as red-headed, less than 1% of the Mediterranean population carry the red-haired gene-despite the descent of some Italians from a portion of the steppe migrants who crossed the Alps in around 1300BC. Intermarriage with other peoples with more dominant genes meant that the recessive red gene rarely had a chance to express itself and so was incredibly rare.
However, this suspicion of red hair continued and evolved with time. In the Middle Ages and beyond, redheads acquired even more negative connotations. Red hair became an almost demonic badge, associated with witches, vampires, and werewolves. By the Renaissance, the Spanish Inquisition was using red hair as a way of identifying Jews- despite the low prevalence of red hair in Jewish people. This badge stuck. Artists began to portray dubious Jewish characters as redheads, such as the treacherous Judas Iscariot and Mary Magdalene before her repentance. This prejudiced tendency was carried into literature, with both Shakespeare and Dickens portraying their Jewish characters of Shylock and Fagin as red-haired.
Redheads were certainly rare. However, perhaps there is something more than a fear of the ‘other’ at work here. Reactions against redheads could be a reaction against the color red itself, as, in nature, red is often a symbol of danger. In 2011, a study of Rhesus monkeys was carried out. Keepers in red, green and blue shirts delivered food to the monkeys. While the monkeys readily accepted the food from the blue and green shirts, they universally rejected food brought by the red shirts.
Perhaps like the color of our hair, the suspicion of red is in our genes.
Where did we find this stuff? Here are our sources:
Neoptolemus, Encyclopedia Brittanica
Requiem for the Redhead, Smithsonian Magazine
The Violent History of Red Hair, K Thor Jenson, OMG facts
The Genetic Causes, Ethic Origins, and History of Red Hair, Maciamo Hay, Eupedia
BritainsDNA Announces the Results of the Red-Head Project, BritainsDNA.com, 2012
The Washington Post – Red Hair: A Blessing Or A Curse?
Bright Side – 11 Reasons Why Redheads Are Unique
Medical Daily – Why Red Hair And Blue Eyes Is So Rare, Plus 4 Other Surprising Facts About Redheads
The Verge – Sex, Disease, And Extinction: What Ancient DNA Tells Us About Humans And Neanderthals
GCT – What’s The Real Reason Why Scotland Is Home To So Many Redheads?
The Telegraph – Mapped: Which Countries Have The Most Redheads?
Owlcation – Redheads: The Genetics of Hair Color
Facts – 70 Redhead Facts & Secrets You Never Knew
Ireland Calling – Vikings Or Celts – Where Does The Irish Red Hair Gene Originate?
Ginger Parrot – The Ancient History of Redheads and Ginger Hair
How to be a Redhead – Top 6 Most Powerful Redhead Women in History
The Dockyard – The Norse Origins Of The Red Hair Gene
Noi Group – Untangling The Myths Of Red Hair
Forward – History of Ginger Jews
Moment Magazine – The Biggest Jewish Genetic Myths of All Time