Face Reading – Physiognomy

Face reading or physiognomy is an ancient practice of telling the nature and future of an individual by reading his face. Physiognomy has been mentioned extensively in the literatures of medieval times and also in classical literatures of Homer and Hippocrates. Physiognomy or face reading is a branch of ancient practical philosophy. The Greek philosopher, Aristotle used to examine the personality of a person by reading different features of the face and also the skin color, body, hair, voice, gait and limbs. Face reading or physiognomy was practiced by Latin philosophers such as Pliny the Elder, Suetonius and Juvenal.

Face Reading – Physiognomy

Face reading would offer information about the nature and character of a person. A professional reader could read some of the characteristics such as intelligence, reliability and honesty. A couple of points noteworthy in predictions through face reading are the width, height and shape of the head and face.

Forehead - The forehead is classified as wide, narrow, round and shallow. Practicality and cleverness is associated with a wide forehead. People with a wide forehead are capable of executing duty diligently. An individual with a deep or round forehead is an idealistic person and these people value longstanding friendship. Constraints and obstacles in family life are associated with a narrow forehead. While, obstacles in career and family troubles are associated with shallow forehead.

Eyebrows - The eyebrows of a person reveals his temperament and the reputation. An ideal brow is a highly arched. This pattern of eyebrow is seen on the faces of actors and actresses. If you come across an individual with developed brow line, you would know he is observant and is dexterous. Sensitive and aesthetic temperaments are associated with a straight brow. A person whose brow grows thickly over his nose bridge is considered to be possessive and envious of others. A thin set of eyebrows reveal the cautious nature of an individual while making major decisions.

Nose - The attitude and the wealth of a person is revealed by the size of one’s nose. According to face readers, the size of the nose is the indication of wealth and also the attitude of a person with regards to financial issues. An ideal nose has a high and straight nose bridge and a fleshy nose tip. An oversize nose tip reveals the violent tendencies of an individual. While, a fleshy nose tip indicates warmth and cordial personality of an individual. Strong will-power and independence are the two characteristics associated with an aquiline nose.

Philtrum - One of the facial features a face reader notices is the groove on the upper lip known as the Philtrum. If an individual has an unpronounced philtrum it reveals his low energy level. While, a deep and clearly marked groove means a strong and healthy energy levels.

Lips - The lips are associated with communication, nurturing relationship and sensual appetites. Full and round lips would convey caring nature of an individual. A thin lower lip indicates giving nature while a thin upper reveals an inability of an individual to reciprocate feelings in a relationship.

The other facial features considered while face reading are the eyes, chin, cheek and ears. Face reading or physiognomy was used during the 18th and the 19th centuries to detect criminal tendencies.

Human Physiognomy

The human mind, the anatomy of the brain and its connection to body language, behavior, feelings, expressions, etc., are some of the most interesting facts that are studied by doctors and scientists. There is another unique study related to the human mind but is not as well known as the others. This is called the human physiognomy and is defined as the "assessment of an individual's personality by observing his/her facial expressions".

Our face is the best mode of expression in our body, through which people can judge our moods, our emotions and thoughts, and sometimes even our personality. The only factors responsible for this phenomenon is the presence of hormones in our body. Duchenne de Boulogne (1806-1875) was a neurologist from France who did extensive research in this field and put across the mechanism of human physiognomy in the form of illustrations and pictures of facial expression. His findings were used as a base for further research. In the paragraphs below, you will read more about physiognomy, so keep reading!

What is Human Physiognomy?

As defined in the introduction, human physiognomy is the art of face reading and judging a person's character through his facial expressions. Since our face includes a number of parts such as forehead, eyes and eyebrows, ears, nose, lips and chin, there are various movements that are made using these parts. When the muscles of these facial parts are contracted or relaxed, there are particular facial expressions that are resulted. However, these expressions are made only when there is a specific reaction generated inside the nervous system.

Thus, you have a different facial expression when someone pinches you (pain, anger, revenge), and when someone kisses you (calm, happy, protected, etc.). Depending on these expressions, a physiognomist can guess your thoughts, emotions, and overall personality. However, you must remember that these assessments are based on personal belief and shouldn't be taken as real judgments, as every individual is different. In the following paragraphs, we have briefed you with some judgments you could make with respect to these facial parts.

Forehead
A person's forehead is said to represent his/her soul. There are various types and shapes of foreheads, such as high and low, wide and narrow, flat and bumped, etc. The judgment of a person's soul can be made through the size, shape and pattern of his forehead. Along with this, the lines on the forehead are also used to determine certain characters of the person.

Nose
The nose of an individual includes the nose-bridge which is used to determine his ego. An ego is what the person thinks about himself, and is judged by either a higher or lower level. The size of the nose along with its width is also used to determine the "self image" a person may have in his mind. Therefore, people with short, small, wide, large, long, thin, turned up and turned down noses are all analyzed in different ways.

Eyes and Eyebrows
The eyes are known to be the most expressive parts of a person's face. They are considered as the mirror of a person's mind and the true nature of an individual can be determined through them. The shapes and sizes of eyes such as; large, small, round, oval, wide, bulging, close, narrow, etc., are all the variations that you will find in order to read a person's face. All these types of eyes and eye movements can determine what a person is thinking, feeling or concluding. Eyebrows represent the pleasures, senses and attractions related to a person's attitude. These judgments are made, depending on the thickness, shape and spacing of the eyebrows.

Ears
An individual's ears denote the intellectual ability and the prosperity in his life. The size of the lobe that is either large or small, which decides the prosperity of the individual. On the other hand, the placement of the ears, such as; flat, sticking out, or a low set of ears can decide your nature and the way you react to certain situations. The courage and organizational power is also determined by the placement of the earlobes, such as detached or attached lobes.

Lips
Emotions such as happiness, sadness, pleasure, attraction, control, selfishness, loyalty, lust, etc., are all determined from lips and mouth of an individual. The way your upper and lower lip is placed, the shape of both and their distance from the nose and chin can decide all the above mentioned emotions. A physiognomist can easily determine what your feelings are by analyzing the coordination between the eyes and lips.

Chin
A person's thoughts towards commitment, his determination, endurance, strength, ambition, etc., are guessed with the help of the various formations on the chin. There are different types of chins such as; prominent, long, short, wide, flat, round, pointed, with a cleft and positioned forward. These can decide how serious a person can be regarding his work and life.

With this information about human physiognomy, hope you have learned many new things about reading people's faces. However, it is valid to be done only by professionals and should not be used to make random judgments on someone.

Physiognomy of Men

On many occasions, I have been told by my grandma, never to trust a man with cat eyes. By cat eyes she meant someone with green eyes. These green eyed men, according to her were not trustworthy and liaisons with them will result in heart breaks. I do not know how accurate is this face reading prophecy by my grandma. However, there are many countries like Greece, China and even India, where physiognomy, that is, face reading is considered an art. An expert in physiognomy is said to interpret and explain the personality or character of a particular person, with just a single look at the face and body structure. If you believe, the face can show you what's going on in the mind, then you will find the following tips very useful. The tips below cover information related to physiognomy of men. Read on and see if it helps you judge a man's character and nature better.

What Does Physiognomy Help Interpret?
Your features indicate your luck and fortune. Each facial area helps in assessing what kind of a person you are. The forehead helps interpret one's way of thinking. The eyes tell you about your ability to take on different life experiences. Your work methodology and ability to deal with money is interpreted by the nose. Your mouth shows how expressive one is and the lips indicate your level of sensuality. Your interaction with others is indicated by the ears and level of assertiveness is explained by the appearance of chin. The meaning of each facial feature is different when it comes to the sexes. They interpret a different meaning when it comes to women and men. In the following paragraph, you shall learn to analyze the physiognomy of men. So, go ahead, arm yourself with these tips and start analyzing the personality of the men in your life.

Physiognomy of Men's Face
Head
The head of a man that is big in size and round indicates he will do well as an administrator. He will hold a good position in his life. A man whose head is level and is full of hair, shows he is intelligent as well as witty. This man is full of good qualities and character. A broad head than long shows the man will have trouble maintaining his wealth and will prove to be unlucky. A small head also shows he is not very lucky in life and will lack intelligence.
Hair
A head with full of hair means the man is intelligent. Thick and rough hair means the man may be poor. Jet black and thick hair indicate the person is full of good qualities. Thin black hair means the man is a passionate person. Slightly reddish hair means he may live a very comfortable life.
Forehead
A broad forehead indicates the main is intelligent, learned as well as has a generous nature. A short forehead indicates he will most probably be poor and may even live a short life. Wealthy and spiritually inclined men have curved and broad foreheads. High and broad forehead indicates intelligence and wealth.
Eyes
A man whose corner of the eye is red in color, shows he will rank high in popularity among women. A deep set and deeply sunk eyes indicate a very unfaithful and wicked man. If a man has nice round eyes, he may either be a conman or a very brave person. Red colored eyes indicate passionate nature and yellow colored eyes mean the person is not content with his life. White eyes show intelligence.
Eyebrows
Eyebows that are curved like a bow, show the man will lead a comfortable life and will have no problems with his wealth. Joining of both eyebrows means the person will remain under the influence of the opposite sex. However, such individuals are very kind hearted. Selfish, conceited individuals have long, bushy eyebrows. A poor and unlucky individual may have less hair on his eyebrows.
Ears
Small sized ears means a foolish man. Long eared men are often considered intelligent. Twisted and hard ears indicate the man is either a wrestler or has a stout body. Thin ear frame may indicate the person is a scholar and thick ears indicate unreliable, cheat and an evil person.
Nose
Long nose indicates a lucky man who will earn power and wealth. Very long nose means he is a shameless person. Small noses mean a kind hearted man with religious outlook. A shrewd and wicked man has a depression in the center of his nose.
Cheeks
A man with dimples that are seen when he laughs or talks shows he is lucky and wealthy. Broad, fleshy cheeks mean the person has a destiny to rule and earn power with wealth. Raised cheeks indicate selfishness.
Chin
A man with no hair on the chin indicates he has a personality of a coward and may be unlucky. Little hair in chin means he is selfish and has a rash temperament. A man who loves to talk, that is, talkative man has a long, hanging chin.
Mouth and Lips
A man with broad mouth is hard on luck and big mouth means he has a bold nature. Red lips indicate the person has a happy, optimistic nature. Long, broad lips mean unlucky man with a blemished character. Protruding, big lower lips indicate a hardworking man who has trouble with faithfulness.
Face
A man with round face is considered jovial and lucky. Very big and ill proportioned face indicates he may be poor.


Physiognomy of Men's Body
Height
A tall man is supposed to have a good personality and live a comfortable life. Men with a short stature are considered sexy in nature, cunning and yes, clever.
Stomach
A long, thin stomach or belly shows he holds a good position in life and work. Normal belly shows he is lucky. If the person has red veins apparent on his stomach, it shows loose morals and blue veins indicate wealth.
Belly Button
Big, round navel is interpreted as a generous man. Deep, fleshy belly button means the man holds a good position in his life. A man is said to have weak morals when his navel is small and uneven in shape.
Thighs
Thick hair on a man's thigh means he is very popular with the opposite sex. Hairless thighs as well as thin thigh indicate bad luck. Fleshy and broad thighs mean the person has good luck on his side.
Feet
Big feet that appear fleshy means he has power and wealth. A man with average feet means he lives an average life.
Body Hair
A man with scanty hair on the body is said to be lucky. If he has thin hair, he is said to suffer in life. Very thick hair means, he will live a miserable life.

These are some features and their meanings related to the physiognomy of men. One cannot say for sure, if one can actually judge a person's character, personality, luck and outlook towards life based on these human physiognomy interpretations. It is up to an individual how he chooses to act or behave. They may sound contradictory in many cases, thus, it is up to you to decide how far you should believe these face reading interpretations.

Physiognomy of Women

It was truly a lesson in don't take something at face value. You know, so many of us do in life. Whether it's because of how somebody looks or because of what they're wearing or what have you, you kind of assess a person in the first five minutes before they even speak. ~ Shemar Moore

They say never try to understand a woman. The more you try, the more you will get confused. Oscar Wilde may have learned this fact the hard way, and therefore, he came up with the following famous quote: "Women are meant to be loved, not to be understood". She may say everything is alright, but in reality, there's a storm building up within her. You may find the most beautiful girl you ever met in your life, but is she as beautiful on the inside? This brings up the need for learning the art of physiognomy of women. Face reading is a very ancient art that may have originated in India and spread to other countries like Iran as well as France. Based on physical characteristics of a person's face, one can assume most of the different aspects of their character as well as personality. So, if you want to know more about the inner self based on the outer characteristics, read on the following tips on physiognomy of a woman's face.

Physiognomy of a Woman's Face

It's not just the face of a person you know, but also recognizing the characteristics of one's own face. This will help you learn all the positive as well as negative traits of your personality. The following facial features of women and their corresponding characteristics will help you know these fine points related to your own, as well as the personality of others.

Physiognomy of Women's Face
Head
The head can speak a lot about a woman. If the front portion of the head is straight, it indicates the woman is lucky. An arched head shows she is lucky as well as leading a comfortable life. A round head indicates the woman may be unlucky in life. Women with long head are said to have a questionable character.
Hair
The hair is said to help measure the inner strength of a woman. Women with thick, coarse and wild hair are said to have very high physical as well as mental strength. These women are thought to maintain great resilience in their lives. Women with thin, silky hair are said to be sensitive in nature. Those who have black colored hair are thought to be lucky and wealthy. Red hair women are considered to be of ill temper and quarrelsome in nature.
Forehead
The forehead gives the first impression about a woman. A long and broad forehead means the woman is unlucky in life. Woman with the forehead covered in hair or has a depression in the center, it indicates she may be jealous and have ill will towards some people.
Eyebrows
Eyebrows are the next feature that catches one's attention. Bow shaped eyebrows with soft, black hair indicate beauty and strong character. Wide, wavy, golden colored, bushy eyebrows indicate the woman is unlucky as well as of a mean nature. Straight eyebrows indicate an unlucky woman.
Eyes
Eyes, the window of the soul, speak a lot about a person. Women with large eyes that shine are said to have a dominating nature, lucky as well as leader. Small eyes that appear gloomy and round indicate the woman is shrewd and imposes self limitations that prevent her from growing in life. A woman with drowsy, sleepy eyes means she loves mingling with the opposite sex and may have loose morals.
Mouth
One can tell a lot about relationships by examining the lips. A woman with thin upper lip and a broader lower lip indicates she may have problems reciprocating her feelings in a relationship. A woman with thin lower lip and thicker upper lip may indicate she gives in too much to build and maintain a relationship. A self centered, mean woman has small, tightly pursued lips. A lady with full lips means she is expressive, generous as well as loves the rich things offered by life.
Nose
A woman with a straight nose indicates she is intelligent, witty, wise as well as full of perseverance. Women with a small nose are said to be cunning, shrewd as well as mischievous. A proud woman who is also lazy and loves the pleasures of life is said to have wide, flaring nostrils. Good matured women have a hook shaped nose.


Physiognomy of Women's Body
Height
Women of an average height are supposed to be the loved by their husbands a lot. They are known to perform their household duties well. Very tall women are not considered to be sexy and very attractive by the opposite sex. Short women are supposed to be happy go lucky kinds. They love to experiment in the bed and are said to be very sweet natured.
Neck
A smooth, not very long and well proportionate neck is said to be an asset related to the woman's beauty. Deer like necks are popular and loved by all. Too fat and wide neck indicates the woman will have a bad nature and get herself involved in carrying out mischief. If the woman has three wrinkles on her neck, it indicates she will have wealth and good luck.
Shoulders
Women with crooked and hairy shoulders are considered unlucky. Women with not too broad and fleshy shoulders are said to be lucky.
Hands
Women with very long hands are said to be unlucky. Those who have rough dry hands are said to spend a life of struggle. Soft, delicate hands indicate wealth and good fortune.
Fingers
Women with long, thin fingers are said to have good luck on their side. Women with small, spatula shaped fingers with hair on the back are said to be unlucky. Short and fat fingers indicate the woman is of a stubborn nature. Small thumbs and conical fingers indicate the woman is clever and very faithful towards her husband. Square shaped fingers and broad thumbs indicate the woman is mischievous and a fighter cock. Women with pointed and thin fingers are said to have a passionate and social nature.
Belly Button
If the belly button or navel is deep, she will be very popular and will be dear to her husband. Broad, fleshy navel indicates the woman is lucky.
Waist
Woman with a fat waist is said to love good dresses. A narrow, well-formed waist, smooth and not very hairy indicates the woman is lucky. Big, flabby waist is said to indicate the woman is shrewd and wicked in nature.
Thighs
Women who have round, straight, fleshy thighs are said to be brave and kind hearted. Women with broad, hairy thighs are said to spend a life of struggle. Thin, skinny thighs indicate the woman is unlucky.
Ankles
Ankles of a woman that are fleshy and round, indicate the woman will have a very fortunate life. Broad or disproportionate ankles indicate bad luck.
Feet
When all the toes touch the ground and the full foot falls on the ground while walking, it indicates the woman is very fortunate. When the third and the fourth toe does not touch the ground while walking, it indicates the woman may become a widow.
Toe Nails
Women with red colored toe nails are said to live a comfortable life. Yellow colored toe nails indicate she will be poor, pink indicates a woman of a shrewd and wicked nature. White colored toe nails means the woman may live a life of struggle and misery. Black colored toe nails indicate the woman may have a loose character.

These were some physical attributes that tell you a lot about a woman. However, one should not follow these traits by the look. Even if a person has certain characteristics, does not make them good or bad in reality. You need to consider other factors as well before passing a judgment about a person. Physiognomy of men differs from the physiognomy of women. It is always good to have a bit of knowledge about face reading. How far you use the information in practical life, is up to you.