23 July 2008

A Roman "quiff"


Several days ago I blogged an Egyptian statuary head that strongly resembled Michael Jackson. This one (via Neatorama) is a dead ringer for another music celebrity.
"The Roman Elvis [2nd century AD] is in fact a genuine marble acroterion - a kind of architectural ornament often found for decoration on the corners of a sarcophagus, a stone tomb or burial chamber... It bears an uncanny likeness to Elvis Presley. It's the quiff that does it..."
A new word for me - quiff - per Random House "a girl or woman, esp. one of loose morals" or Brit. "a lock or curl of hair brought forward over the forehead," both with etymology unknown. (There's nothing in the OED).

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