The use of henna to adorn ones hands has been practiced for thousands of years. Today, henna is used throughout the entire world, but where exactly did this practice begin?
Where Did Henna Originate From?
While it is difficult to determine the exact origin of henna, it has been estimated that the first uses of henna can be traced back to the Pharoah's of Egypt nearly 9000 years ago. According to an article by Tribune, it is said that Cleopatra, the last reigning queen of Ancient Egypt, used henna to decorate her body and beautify herself.
In an article by P.K. Gode, there are also arguments that henna was possibly used in ancient Egypt in the form of paste used to color the palms of the hands (much like I mentioned in a previous blog post), soles of the feet, fingers, and hair. Some mummies have been found to have stained finger and toe nails. Considering that a number of these mummies can be dated back to 2000 b.c., it is fascinating that it has spread to India and become such a large part of Indian culture. The question is, how and when did it spread?
Historically, henna has also been mentioned in early Islamic texts as a method of beautification and medicine. In Islam, henna is considered a sunnah, an encouraged, learned behavior from the Prophet Muhammad. It is narrated that Prophet Muhammad told a woman to decorate her hand to beautify and differentiate them from that of a mans. While the early Islamic era was much later than 2000 b.c., the idea that henna was present in the Middle East shows a potential pattern to the spread of henna towards South Asia. Considering the Middle East was a hub for trade, I think it is definitely a possibility that is how henna spread throughout the world.
To the left, you will find a typical Arabian or Gulf henna design. Arabian henna designs typically use bold lines combined with light filler elements. The lighter elements tend to consist of swirls and small flowers, while the bold lines focus on larger flowers and thick lines. This style is common throughout the Middle East, and is quite different compared to Indian styled designs.
The image to the right is a design more similar to Indian styled henna designs. There are many elements and motifs such as flowers and paisleys, but there are also very repetitive patterns. Compared to Arabian styled designs, Indian designs tend to decorate in full.
It is interesting to see the differences in stylistic choice. I am curious to learn more about how these styles developed as henna spread throughout the world.
References:
Gode, P. (1947). STUDIES IN THE HISTORY OF INDIAN PLANTS—HISTORY OF MENDĪ OR HENNA (BETWEEN B. C. 2000 AND A. D. 1850). Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, 28(1/2), 14-25. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/44028042
Henna by Sienna. (n.d). Henna in Early Islam. Retrieved from http://www.hennabysienna.com/henna-in-the-early-islamic-period.html
Moazzam, Iram. (2014). A Brief History of Henna. Retrieved from https://tribune.com.pk/story/741476/a-brief-history-of-henna/
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