Amazing Pottery

Can anyone help me with this history project?

I am supposed to come to class with my face painted like the Ancient Hebrews, except the Ancient Hebrews didnt wear face paint or make up. at least i dont think they did. My teachers said that if your civilization didnt paint their faces then you should research the patterns they used on clothing/pottery etc. and transfer those patterns onto you face. its a really lame project and its pretty irrelevant to what we are learning, but i have to do it and my teachers wont listen to me when i tell them that the hebrews didnt have face paint. does anyone know what hebrew patterns looked like? a website with pics would help a bunch. thx

Public Comments

1. I guess you could use symbols from pottery or fabrics to try and show their tradition and culture. I'll look for some pics. You could try painting this star of David onto your face. You can choose whether or not to include the Hebrew writing inside: http://images.jupiterimages.com/common/detail/36/08/23300836.jpg You might also find some of these Hebrew celebration designs useful. The simpler ones like the contemporary star and silhouetted dove could work quite well: http://myweddingreceptionideas.com/images/products/designs/hebrew_celebration_designs_tn.jpg Instead of having the whole Hebrew alphabet, you could have one or two symbols which are important either to you personally or in general. For example, you could use the symbol Chai, meaning living: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/Hebrew_Chai_Symbol.svg You could also try painting a hamsa which is basically an eye in the center of a hand with fingers pointing down. It was used as a symbol for protection: http://www.orangerugyarn.com/patterns/hamsa/hamsa_pattern002.jpg Just as a general rule, most patterns will be geometric, usually revolving around the star of David and possibly including other objects. Good luck.
2. The hebrews where usually farmer like people with very rough dresscode. So let your beard grow and paint it camel color like with pieces of dirt.
3. Well i couldn't find any hewbrew patterns but this link has the hewbrew alphabet http://www.jewfaq.org/alephbet.htm and you could also use the hebrew star http://www.planetpals.com/peace/star1_th.jpg maybe put the alpahbet inside the star! :) hope that helps
4. Your teacher is wrong, it is forbidden to Jewish people to worships pictures and to paint it to their faces. You can research Jewish culture and prove it and in the same time have a wig of same style Hasides have haircuts and a black hat but make sure to show her she is wrong. If she says it is inadequate tell her your religion forbiddes you paint your face. www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org
5. Ancient Hebrews did NOT paint their faces. There was also no distinct pattern that Hebrews used in the making of pottery or clothing. The clothing was usually made from woolen fabric and either dyed or stayed its natural color. It was made from a plant called flax. Jewish clothing was fringed, frilly, braided, had overlapping fabric, etc, etc. The only design in ancient Hebrew clothing was that it was usually dyed all sorts of colors. Tell your teacher this about face painting: Jewish law Leviticus 19:28 states that "You shall not make gashes in your flesh for the dead, or incise any marks on yourselves. I am the Lord." Judaism has always seen bodies as a gift from God, and your body is used to house your soul. You are supposed to keep it in good shape for when you return to God. Hebrews also didn't wear body/face paint because they believed it would keep them from being buried in a Jewish cemetery -- which is just a myth. If you need to wear something to class to represent ancient Hebrew culture, try to find middle-eastern gowns that are vibrant with colors. You can also go to a local Temple and buy a tzitzit, which is a garment that has been worn throughout Jewish history. Also, Hasidic Jews have very strict dress codes. Women wear tichel's (scarves) when they are married. Men always wear long beards, and have uncut sideburns called payoth (If you've ever seen Devil's Arithmetic, you'll notice the men have long curly sideburns -- that's a payoth). If you must paint symbols on your face, paint the Star of David and/or the Hebrew alphabet. http://images.buycostumes.com/mgen/merchandiser/24921.jpg http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/hebrewc.gif There are certain patterns that you may be able to use. Here: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.hennapage.com/henna/shop/kurdishjewish/jewkurdcover60.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.hennapage.com/henna/shop/kurdishjewish/&h=480&w=345&sz=42&hl=en&start=6&tbnid=ZR5fFzxJYIxnzM:&tbnh=129&tbnw=93&prev=/images%3Fq%3Djewish%2Bpatterns%26gbv%3D2%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den