Side-lock of Youth

The term “side lock of youth” is not totally true, as the “side lock” is typically plaited hair rather than “a lock”, with the end twisted into a spiral. In Middle Kingdom portrayals, the end is rolled forward, rather like a lone ‘pigtail’. Alas, throughout history and even in modern times, a “lock of hair” is a collection of human hair that is typically bunched or fastened together in some fashion. A lock of hair may be on a person’s head or have been cut off the head. When linked to the head, a lock of hair is typically a tress, curl, or ringlet of hair. When a lock of hair is removed from the head, it may be retained for symbolic reasons. It is likely that from which Egyptologists got the term “side lock”.

The side lock was typically worn on the right. It can, however, be represented on the left or right side of a relief, as the lock would not be visible on a figure in profile looking left. The head be shaved bald with only a chunk of hair kept growing long on the parietal ridge, which was then plaited into a style and decorated with a clip or clasp. Some royal youth of both sexes can also be seen wearing cap-style headdresses or even wigs accompanied by an additional side-lock protruding.

The pharaohs’ children used the side lock of youth to show that they were children, as well as to indicate their relationship to the youthful Horus. As the heir apparent to his father Osiris, the young Horus wore the side lock, just like them.

In accordance with mythological precedent, the king’s offspring, as designated heirs, acquired the Horus lock as a symbol of the unique duties that came with that status. In iconography, royal children were represented naked and suckling on their finger, with their heads completely bald except for the side lock.

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