Red hair

Red hair is a hair color shared by several species, among them humans, orangutans, domestic cats, cattle, and horses. It varies from a deep red through to bright copper.

Myths and stories related to red hair

• The Biblical mark of Cain is thought by some to have been red hair. Esau's entire body is supposed to have covered with red hair. Also Judas Iscariot is sometimes supposed to have been redheaded. King David is also known for having red hair.
• Early artistic representations of Mary Magdalene usually depict her as having long flowing red hair, although a description of her hair color was never mentioned in the Bible, and it is possible the colour is an effect caused by pigment degradation in the ancient paint. This myth is used as a plot device in the book The Da Vinci Code.
• Ancient Romans considered redheads to be unlucky.
• Ancient Egyptians associated both red-haired humans and red-colored animals with the god Set, considering them to be favored by the powerful and temperamental deity. Several pharoahs associated with Set are described as being red-headed.