The passport may soon become a “pastport”, a thing of bygone days, with the advent of digitally-stored data and facial recognition technology giving us the chance to pass through borders seamlessly. While some lament the change and the loss of a physical identity document, the truth is, passports have been around – and evolving – for thousands of years.
Ancient Egypt
Speaking to the BBC, author and passport afficionado, Patrick Bisby, points out that the idea of a passport can be traced as far back as Ancient Egypt. In the 14th century BC, some 3,500 years ago, envoys used to be sent out with terracotta or clay tablets on which their missions were inscribed, to engage in “an early form of international relations” by arranging nuptials or carrying messages.
One Ancient Egyptian in particular eventually received a modern paper passport, issued in 1974. The mummifed remains of Ramses II, who died 1213 BC, had to be accompanied and verified by a modern Egyptian passport that contained a “photograph” of the powerful ruler’s face.
In 1974, Ramesses II’s mummy was sent to Paris for preservation and maintenance work. Since French law required every person, living or dead, fly with a valid passport, the Egyptian government had to issue a passport to Pharaoh 3000 years after his death. But no Schengen for you pic.twitter.com/WmPGipi7kp
— Grave Jones (@iamgravejones) September 13, 2020
The Bible and Middle Ages
The Bible also contains references to something we might recognise as a passport, described in the Book of Nehemiah. An incident dated to around 450 BC is recounted, telling how Nehemiah carried with him letters from the Persian monarch, Artaxerxes. The letters requested he be given safe passage to Judah.
Skip to the Middle Ages and parliamentary records from 1414 show that England’s Henry V could hand out similar documents to both English and foreign nationals, requesting they be permitted to “pass through ports” without harm or hindrance.
Falcons, horses and pets
One interesting fact about identity documents is that, because passports such as this are granted in the name of the King, Queen or ruler, it is customary for monarchs not to need to carry one themselves. Our furry overlords however do – pet travel documents are required in both the United States and Europe, and a range of animals require such a document. National Geographic tells us that peregrine falcons in the United Arab Emirates have their own ID in the national green colour, with a number matching that on their leg-rings. Meanwhile, British horses also have passports, recording their medical treatment and preventing horsemeat from entering the UK foodchain.
From written descriptions to instant facial recognition
Timeticks on though, from the 15th century to 1700s, during which, according to Bisby, the emergence of modern nationhood saw the proliferation of travel documents. In the 1800s these started to include a written description of the carrier’s features, whether distinguishing or not.
By the early 20th century, in the wake of the First World War, international tensions and fears of sabotage and espionage were so high, that common global standards were introduced to ensure the documents could stand up to scrutiny.
Since the 2010s, we’ve seen the digitalisation of our identities and it’s becoming easier and easier to travel abroad without needing to get our passports out of our pockets – a convenience that Bisby says sounds a poignant note. The passport, with its hilarious old photo and pages filled with border control stamps, is not only an administrative document but also a memory bank to be treasured.
