Alien Neckties and UFOs - The Origin of the Tie

The answer as to who takes the credit for inventing the necktie is debatable. It was long thought that Croatian mercenary soldiers fighting a 30 year religious war in Europe in the 17th century were the cause of this fashion accessory for men. Those gallant men wore a necktie of sorts around their neck on the battlefield as part of their uniform. Their valor and that fancy tie around their necks gave cause for King Louis the XIV of France to declare that the wearing of a necktie was to be allowed. So, with the thanks to some historians and fashion experts the version of the origin neckties that is widely accepted and published is European and Croatian. As far as the Croatians are concerned, this is their baby. However there are challenges to this account of fashion history, however I would not consider arguing that one in a bar in Croatia.

About 40 years ago archaeologists discovered neckties around the necks of a "Terracotta" army of soldiers that were buried in 221 B.C. with the fist Emperor of China to protect him in the after-life. Ties were not accepted as appropriate dress in China and the tie would not be seen again for over three centuries. In the beginning of the 2nd century Roman soldier servants are depicted in paintings and other art works wearing ties. Why the servants wore ties and not the soldiers are explained simply - it just was not politically correct to wear a tie. Rome had forbid any cloth to be tied around a neck so about 1800 years ago there was apparently an anti necktie movement similar to what we are seeing today with the choice of casual dress being so popular.

There are other tales about how neckties were invented. For instance, the Icelandic Sagas illustrate great Viking battles and even the discovery of America long before Christopher Columbus. These chronicles have been translated into languages the world over, more so than any other but make no mention of neckties from as near as seven centuries after those Roman dudes. None-the-less, the Vikings of Iceland have a part in my version of the history of ties. Once, while I was chilling out in a pub in Reykjavik Iceland a very drunk and very beautiful woman I met had a different version all together of how ties came into existence. However somewhat hard to consider rationally, her remarks did give way to some thought. She claimed that about 100,000 B.C. a gorilla had fashioned a necktie out of vines with the hope of successfully courting a mate. Adding that this ingenuity was passed along to a descendant who invented the wheel - considered the greatest turning point in evolution or to be politically or religiously correct it should be said the greatest turning point in the advance of civilization. I had to shake my head at that one, but to be fair this account is mentioned here with great candor.

Actually, I am not so sure about how history treats this one, ties are cither subject of great debate and someone has to be accountable for them. So to sum it all up here is my theory on the origin of neckties. I have learned it is not always easy to discuss religious or political beliefs; especially when the main goal is to sell something - in this case, neckties. So not to offend anyone regarding religious belief, cultural up-bringing or national pride over how the tie came into existence, or which country claims the necktie as their contribution to mankind - my explanation as to where ties come from is as follows.

A gorilla and a tie as part of evolution and the advance of civilization, who knows? - could be, but considering a bunch of vines tied around a gorilla’s neck as being a necktie - is a real stretch. Dispelling that one as bar room chatter and since I believe actually that there was no Adam and Eve as it is too much a fairy tale. As well because the theory of evolution doesn't exactly hold water either, I can avoid offending anyone religiously regarding the theories of creationism or evolution. The gorilla will not take the prize here. I will not insult national pride either by hurting any ones feelings as I just I do not agree with the historians either, about necktie origins. Maybe those Chinese warriors were crafted wearing narrow bibs, after all those chop sticks do tend to splatter stuff. In reality, it would seem to me that those Croatians, Romans, and Chinese warriors had much more important things on their minds than trying to be fashionable. Anyway, those things hanging on their necks do not even look like ties at all, more like scarves - maybe!

Now, concerning the image above, ( no question about that -that is a tie hanging on that silicone-esh neck ). Convinced with unquestionable evidence, as I found this picture online in a Google image search, I will go on record and give the necktie invention to aliens from another Galaxy who probably left a suit case behind with some ties in it, after a brief visit to or planet. That was probably not the first nor certainly was it the last time a suitcase was lost by a tourist. Now, that should keep me out of trouble with the Croatians, the Chinese, the Romans, the French, the Icelandic babe, the religious, Nordstrom’s, and for heaven's sake - the gorillas.

The much more serious article I wrote ( although the gorilla humor is included ) can be found at the URL below. It is a version that has been culled and revised many times, most recently the summer of 2010. Check it out, plus the Mystery to the Windsor Necktie Knot which is actually a love story along with the diagram how to make this tie knot easily.

Jeffrey Hunter www.nicetiestore.com

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