10.25377/sussex.7240724.v1 Freja Howat-Maxted Freja Howat-Maxted Leila Sansour Leila Sansour Jacob Norris Jacob Norris Reenactment of the biblical story of Ruth the Moabitess, showing Bethlehem women in traditional headdresses dancing at a wedding, c.1934-1947 University of Sussex 2019 Bethlehem Women collection Biblical gaze Bethlehem headdress Shatweh Bethlehem music Bethlehem weddings Middle Eastern and African History Middle Eastern and North African history 2019-05-31 07:55:07 Figure https://sussex.figshare.com/articles/figure/Reenactment_of_the_biblical_story_of_Ruth_the_Moabitess_showing_Bethlehem_women_in_traditional_headdresses_dancing_at_a_wedding_c_1934-1947/7240724 <div>This is a digital reproduction of an image held within the Library of Congress.</div><div><br></div><div>The scene is intended as a reenactment and exists as part of a series intended to depict the old testament book of Ruth. The women pictured are wearing traditional Bethlehem clothing including a bridal dress (malak) with embroidered chest panel, jacket (taqsireh) and cone-shaped headdress (shatweh). This traditional Bethlehem headdress is worn by married women in Bethlehem and is covered with rows of coins, beads and coral, to symbolise family wealth. <br></div><div><br></div><div> The image is part of the Bethlehem Women collection within the Library of Congress project of the Planet Bethlehem Archive.</div>