This week has been the second time I have been told I have classical features (referring to my face)
What does that mean? I tried googling and looking at pictures and definitions, its getting me no where.
Does it mean like greco-roman statues? Is it a good or bad thing? Compliment or veiled insult?
Thanks.
I used to hear that comment in my younger more better looking days…now they say…Oh you’re aging well…so sad…I guess it means you must look nice…but know this, it will go away at some point…enjoy it while you can!!
Depending on context it’s either positive or neutral, not negative. I know I’ve seen the phrase used in late 1800s / early 1900s books and it refers to Greco-Roman statuary of attractive gods and goddesses, not portrait statuary which does show some odd-looking people, Socrates for example. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a4/Socrates_Louvre.jpg
It implies symmetry of features (oval facial shape, straight nose that’s not too long or wide or turned up, chin and jawline that aren’t receding or projecting, slender long neck for women and muscular neck for men).
A similar term is “regular features” again connoting symmetry and not “regular” meaning ordinary or plain.
LOL well thats at least good to know its not a negative thing.
As for it being classical like greco-roman… I was only guessing, but that makes sense… my god Socrates was ugly, with or without that bust of him having a chipped nose.
Thanks for the replies, thats good enough for me, I was worried if it was negative.
I would just add, you need not have Greco-Roman features. The key definitely is symmetry. And this is usually coupled with whatever a particular culture finds aesthetically pleasing.
For example, I think some African American men are very attractive. In this case, I look symmetry, coupled with classic negroid features. And some Asian men are attractive, I think, in much the same way.
Of course, looks are by no means universally sought. About 30 years ago, there was this French actor. Jean-Paul Depardiue was his name (-???). And he was quite ugly by American standards. But he was considered quite attractive in France. Don’t ask me to explain it.
BTW, does anyone know the French actor I am talking about? That unfortunately is all I remember.
Could mean “Wow, you could really use a nose job!”
Jim B., you mean Gerard Depardieu. From what I remember he was considered talented and charismatic but not handsome, even by the French. He tended to play character roles (as in Jean de Florette and Cyrano) and not handsome leading man roles.
Socrates looks like the cowardly Lion.
My Great-Grand-Uncle Tom used to claim that Socrates was really Irish. Looking at that bust, I have to say he may have been on to something. LOL! Irish face #4
I’d love to see a biopic titled “Socrates: The Ugly Truth” starring Paul Giamatti.
It could work.
Do you have an oval shape face , this is considered to be a Classical Facial Features . I have an oval shape face and people said I have a classical facial features .
In Earnest Hemingway’s short story “The Butterfly and the Tank”, he describes one of the women in the bar has someone having strong, semi classical faces and was built like a lion tamer. I also try to Google and find a good definition and it landed me to this thread. I’m thinking it is probably similar to someone who has strong facial features like a Roman Centurion or something like that.
In Earnest Hemingway’s short story The Butterfly and the Tank, he described a woman as one of those with strong semi-classical faces and was built like a lion tamer.
