Old File Bladed shibriya for comment

[ariel]

The first picture is, IMHO, not of a Beduin. Look at the so-called " peot", longish braided hair in front of his ears. Also, the corners of his beard are not trimmed or shaved. And then, you will have to trust me, this is not an Arab face: this is an Ashkenazi Orthodox Jew dressed like a Beduin. Likely, a guard from one of the early Israeli kibbutzim. Romantic era.....

[broadaxe]

Originally Posted by ariel

The first picture is, IMHO, not of a Beduin. Look at the so-called " peot", longish braided hair in front of his ears. Also, the corners of his beard are not trimmed or shaved. And then, you will have to trust me, this is not an Arab face: this is an Ashkenazi Orthodox Jew dressed like a Beduin. Likely, a guard from one of the early Israeli kibbutzim. Romantic era.....

Although might be true, I must argue that: "peot" are NOT to be braided but curled, twisted or laid flat and there are always two. This guy has at least three. It was not uncommon for bedouins of the Saudi desert to have braided long hair, up to the eve of WWII (appr.). I agree the face do not belong to a pure southern bedouin, he could have been of other ancestry. As for early jewish guards - those tend to blend Russian/Caucassian garments with local beduin. This fashion took place (roughly) from 1870 to 1939.