Litham is a mouth-veil which the Tuareg and other North African nomads, particularly men, have traditionally used to cover the lower part of their face.
Tuareg man wearing a litham
Tagelmusts, worn by three Tuareg men
A tagelmust, worn by a man
A veil is an article of clothing or hanging cloth that is intended to cover some part of the head or face, or an object of some significance. Veiling has a long history in European, Asian, and African societies. The practice has been prominent in different forms in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The practice of veiling is especially associated with women and sacred objects, though in some cultures, it is men, rather than women, who are expected to wear a veil. Besides its enduring religious significance, veiling continues to play a role in some modern secular contexts, such as wedding customs.
Roman statue of a veiled Vestal Virgin
Greek bronze statuette of a veiled and masked dancer, 2nd–3rd century BC.
Depiction of Isabeau of Bavaria, queen of France, wearing veiling
Coptic Christian woman wearing a veil (1918)