"Ruth" story. Bethlehem woman "Ruth" as Bethlehemitess, c.1940-1946

Title: "Ruth" story. Bethlehem woman "Ruth" as Bethlehemitess, c.1940-1946
Description: This is a digital reproduction of an image held within the Library of Congress. This image exists as part of a series intended to depict the old testament book of Ruth. The woman pictured is wearing the traditional Bethlehem bridal dress (malak) with embroidered chest panel. Over the dress she is wearing the distinctive short jacket (taqsireh) unique to Bethlehem. She also wears a traditional headdress local to the Bethlehem region, known as the 'shatweh'. This headdress is worn by married women and is covered with rows of coins, beads and coral, to symbolise family wealth. She is is portraying the role of Ruth as a 'Bethlehemitess'. This image is part of the Bethlehem Women collection within the Library of Congress project of the Planet Bethlehem Archive.
Identifier: pb_lc_bwo_7240715
Subject: Bethlehem; Palestine; Palestinian Diaspora; Bethlehem Women collection; Biblical gaze; Shatweh; Bethlehem headdress; Jewish Bethlehem
References: https://www.loc.gov/item/mpc2005009395/PP/
License: CC BY 4.0
Contributor: G. Eric and Edith Matson Photograph Collection
Type: 1 negative : safety film ; 4 x 5 in.
Source: Library of Congress, Matson Collection
Spatial Coverage: 31.7053996/ 35.1936877
Rights Holder: Library of Congress. No known restrictions on publication.
Date (approximate): c.1940-1946