Historical References to Trich

"In ancient works of literature there are numerous references to pulling and plucking of hair; but I could find only one reference that I thought was clearly a reference to Trich behaviour. Most references were in the context of grief, torture, fashion or vanity.

But Epictetus (c.60-c.117 AD) was more interesting. In one reference, men who plucked hair for fashion/vanity reasons apparently fell into habitual behavior:

"Indeed I think that the men who pluck out their hairs do what they do without knowing what they do."
["The Discourses" by Epictetus (101 AD), Book 3, Chapter 1]

And further on is a reference which appears to be Trich behaviour under stress. Agamemnon was legendary, rather than historical, but presumably the description reflects observations made in everyday life.

"But neither was Agamemnon happy, though he was a better man than Sardanapalus and Nero; but while others are snoring what is he doing? 'Much from his head he tore his rooted hair.' And what does he say himself? 'I am perplexed,' he says, 'and disturbed I am,' and 'my heart out of my bosom is leaping.'"
[Book 3, Chapter 22]

Homer, in The Iliad (c.750 BC), wrote of a hero's response to frustration:

"... even so oft in his breast groaned Agamemnon, from the very deep of his heart [,] and his spirits trembled with him. And whensoever he looked toward the Trojan plain, he marvelled at the many fires that blazed in front of Illios, and at the sound of flutes and pipes, and the noise of men; but whensoever to the ships he glanced and to the host of Achaians, then rent he many a clean lock forth from his head, to Zeus that is above, and gently moaned his noble heart." (Lang et al. 1945, pp. 165-166)

There is a biblical account of hair pulling, in the book of Ezra: "At this news I tore my garment and my cloak; I tore hair from my head and beard and sat down, quite overcome." (Ezra 9:3).
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