Ostrich feathers, in contrast with most other birds, are symmetrical. The barbules on either side of the shaft are roughly of equal length.
The barbules are (or individual hairs on either side of the “stem”) not interlocking, creating feathers that are useless for flying purposes as there are no tiny barbs to from an air-resistant unit as needed by flying birds.
During the time of the Egyptian Faro’s , only the Faro and his royal family was allowed to wear ostrich feathers as part of their costumes and dresses. Ostriches were roaming and living in the Sahara Desert thousands of years ago – including at the time of the Faro’s. For the old Egyptians the ostrich feather symbolized justice since it is the only feather in the world that is symmetrical, meaning the individual hairs on either side of the shaft are of equal length. Today in modern Western society we use the scale to symbolize justice – same concept different object.
