Aquiline nose
In racist discourse
In racist discourse
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In [racist discourse](/wiki/Racism "Racism"), especially that of post\-[Enlightenment](/wiki/Age_of_Enlightenment "Age of Enlightenment") Western writers, a Roman nose has been characterized as a marker of beauty and nobility. A well\-known example of the aquiline nose as a marker contrasting the bearer with their contemporaries is the protagonist of [Aphra Behn](/wiki/Aphra_Behn "Aphra Behn")'s *[Oroonoko](/wiki/Oroonoko "Oroonoko")* (1688\). Although an African prince, he speaks French, has straightened hair, thin lips, and a "nose that was rising and Roman instead of African and flat". These features set him apart from most of his peers, and marked him instead as noble and on par with Europeans.

In the context of [scientific racism](/wiki/Scientific_racism "Scientific racism"), writers have attributed aquiline noses as a characteristic of [different "races"](/wiki/Historical_race_concepts "Historical race concepts"); e.g.: according to [Jan Czekanowski](/wiki/Jan_Czekanowski "Jan Czekanowski"), it is most frequently found amongst members of the [Arabid race](/wiki/Arabid_race "Arabid race") and [Armenoid race](/wiki/Armenoid_race "Armenoid race"). It was also often seen as a characteristic of the [Mediterranean race](/wiki/Mediterranean_race "Mediterranean race") and [Dinarid race](/wiki/Dinarid "Dinarid"). In 1899, [William Z. Ripley](/wiki/William_Z._Ripley "William Z. Ripley") argued that it is characteristic of peoples of [Teutonic](/wiki/Teutons "Teutons") descent. The supposed science of [physiognomy](/wiki/Physiognomy "Physiognomy"), popular during the [Victorian era](/wiki/Victorian_era "Victorian era"), made the "prominent" nose a marker of [Aryanness](/wiki/Aryan_race "Aryan race"): "the shape of the nose and the cheeks indicated, like the forehead's angle, the subject's social status and level of intelligence. A Roman nose was superior to a snub nose in its suggestion of firmness and power, and heavy jaws revealed a latent sensuality and coarseness". Quoted in 


In what context were aquiline noses attributed as a characteristic of different 'races'?