Dictionary of all Scriptures & Myths

SHAVING THE HEAD IN GRIEF

Symbolic of contrition, and readiness to sacrifice the highest qualities of the lower nature for the love of God.

"The Doliones taking the Argonauts to be their enemies the Pelasgians, attacked them by night, and several of the Doliones, and among them Cyzicus their king, lost their lives. With daylight, discerning their error, the Argonauts shore their hair, and shedding many tears, buried Cyzicus with solemn magnificence." - The Argonautic Expedition.

Trust is still put in the things of the lower planes, which are comparable to darkness or the night; and so amid adversity the soul is again impelled to aspire. Then ensues the conflict between the powers of darkness (the illusive Pelasgians) and the powers of the soul, with the result that Faith (Cyzicus) is for the time dethroned. When light comes, and the soul is shown the error of its ways, it is moved to contrition (shaving the head), which is a sign of a fervent desire to contact the Source of Power. But it is only after the "shedding of tears," i.e. the struggle for Truth and the pains of disposing of the dead form of its misdeeds, that harmony is restored.

See Also

ARGONAUTS
CYZICUS
DARKNESS
DEAD
DOLIONES
FAITH
HAIR SHAVEN
LIGHT
NIGHT
PELASGIANS
SACRIFICE (Animals)
STRIFE
TEARS