Hair became in Ancient Egypt a resource for expressing things.
The bending hair was used in Ancient Egypt art for drawing body movements.
As some movements were related in Ancient Egyptian belief to some attitudes, hair was also used for expressing those attitudes. We are referring concretly to “respect”.
Papyrus of Ani, a master piece of the Egyptian art. Ani with a lock of hair forwards greeting the Ennead. XIX Dynasty. Photo: British Museum.
The gesture of bending the body forwards was utilised by artists of Ancient Egypt for expressing the respect in front of kings and deities. And the hair forwards became a resource of stressing this gesture of veneration.