Letter: Jesus explained

Tuesday 02 December 1997 00:02 GMT

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Sir: Ann Curry asks (letter, 21 November) how and why Galilean fishermen would shave. Razors had been available for centuries, and Jesus lived in a world in which Greek was the lingua franca, a world ruled mainly by the descendants of Alexander's Successors, who still followed his practices of maintaining a shaven chin and dining with 12 intimate Companions (an allusion to the 12 Olympians at table with Zeus).

It is highly improbable that Jesus would have been unaware of these customs. Thus by easily recognised signs did he imply his Kingship. Possibly.

STEPHEN GRIME

London SE11

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