3 little words... and it's not "I love you"

Mesomorph, Endomorph and Ectomorph.

These three words were coined by American psychologist William Sheldon (1898-1977). Sheldon observed different body types and categorized males bodies into three Somatotypes. Each has certain characteristics. The characteristics of each are as follows:

• Ectomorph — Delicate build, flat chest, fragile, lean, lightly muscled with small shoulders, thin. Joints are smaller and limbs are long in proportion. The necks are long and narrow, as well as the toes, fingers and hands.
  
• Mesomorph — Hard body with a rectangular shape, thick skin, straight posture and mature muscle mass. The Mesomorph shoulders are broad with a relatively narrow waist. From the back, one can see the pronounced V formed by the latissimus dorsi. Arms and legs are well developed. This somatotype would be considered athletic.
  
• Endomorph — round and soft. This physique has mass concentrated in the abdominal area most often by fat not muscle. Arms, legs, hands and feet are relatively small or short in proportion to the body frame. Upper arms and thighs are more developed than the lower aspects. The waist appears high.

I post these somatotypes because it facilitates a discussion about the ideal male body, its basis in beauty and helps to perpetuate a better discussion. Societies have deemed one of these somatotypes of greater or lesser importance/value over time based on societal conditions.

Looking at very early civilizations and the fertility gods/goddesses, the Willendorf Goddess from 30,000 BC falls into the Endomorphic camp. It is pronounced in its round, almost bulbous characteristics. I would dare say, it looks very similar to people wandering around today in the US. The body type at the time the statue was commissioned was however rare, if it occurred in nature at all. Death was more common than life. The average lifespan was 30 for women and 35 in men. Most women died in childbirth. What could be of most intrinsic value? Life. A life of plenty. Enough food to nurture an individual to maturity was rare. Disease was common but starvation was even more so common. A rounder woman was considered more desirable because she was considered more able to succeed in childbirth.

Please note: Male beauty was a non-issue. The earliest male form that that has crossed my plate that is comparible to the Wellendorf Goddess is from predynastic era of Egypt. Check out the Egyptian God Min from 5000 BC to 4000BC. He was one of Egypt’s earliest gods.

Photo courtesy of Tyra and James Arraj.
Tracking the Elusive Human, Vol. I: A Practical Guide to C.G. Jung's Psychological Types,W.H. Sheldon's Body and Temperament Types, and Their Integration - ©1988

Pagan Research Foundation, Stormfront.org, ©2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

Ward Nicholson, Longevity & health in ancient Paleolithic vs. Neolithic peoples
Copyright © 1999