tichbirin
Chin Marks
Also: chin tattoo, beard mark, lower face pattern
Attested Usage
What is documented — academic sources, fieldwork, museum collections
Feminine beauty mark - enhances the face, shows maturity
Source:Becker, C. (2006). Amazigh Arts in Morocco
academic · high confidence
The lines represent the roots of a tree - woman as foundation of family
Source:Lacoste-Dujardin, C. (1970). Le conte kabyle
ethnographic · medium confidence
Oral Interpretations
What people say it means — often multiple, sometimes contradictory
“A woman without chin marks was not considered beautiful in our grandmothers' time”
— Middle-aged woman discussing beauty standards, Taroudant (2019)
“The three lines are like water flowing down - bringing fertility”
— Elderly woman explaining her tattoos, Al Hoceima (2018)
Usage Notes
Ritual Use
Applied before marriage as beautification
Related Symbols
Sources
- Becker 2006
- Lacoste-Dujardin 1970
Last updated: 2024-06-01