Physiognomy - How to Read Faces.

Physiognomy is the interpretation of outward bodily appearance, especially the features of the face, to reveal a person's predominant temper and character.

Physiognomy is based upon the belief that a person's physical appearance, primarily the face, reflects their character or personality. Up until the time of King Henry VIII, its validity was widely taught in universities and was an everyday concept that had developed into a regular Middle English word spelled fisnamy or visnomy. After that time, scholastic leaders settled on the more erudite form 'physiognomy' and began to discourage the whole idea of 'fisnamy'.

The use of physiognomy is attributed to the Greek philosopher Aristotle though earlier sources suggest that physiognomy was known to Pythagoras, Socrates and Hippocrates. In the sixteenth century physiognomists were tortured as heretics. The principal promoter of physiognomy in modern times was the Swiss pastor Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741-1801) who, for a short while, was a friend of Goethe.

Phrenology was also considered a physiognomy. It was created around 1800 by German physician Franz Joseph Gall and Johann Spurzheim and was widely popular in the 19th century in Europe and the United States. You can take a fun Phrenology test on this website.

Physiognomy Face Reading

The definition of Physiognomy and physiognomist is part of our online psychic glossary. More about Physiognomy and other definitions.

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