Many years ago piercing developed and became to represent many diverse
qualities such as: wealth, courage and power. For example the Romans associated
ear piercing with wealth and luxury. Those Romans who had their ears pierced
were considered wealthy and those who didn't were considered poor. Piercing has
been adapted in many different cultures around the world. It's hard to say where
and when piercing was originated because it was a common practice among many
ancient societies. For example the nose piercing has been known
to have originated in the Middle East over four thousand years ago and then the
popularity spread to India where many women adorned their noses with expensive
gold nose jewelry. The kind of jewelry they wore distinguished their title and
rank in their society. Wearing body jewelry to show the rank in society was a
very common motivation for piercing in the ancient era. In ancient Egypt the
Pharos and royal families were the only people allowed to pierce their navels
because it was to represent their supreme social standing. Any peasants who
broke this rule and pierced their navels were killed unless their belly button
was considered the "perfect" belly button, which, at that point they had the
chance to elevate their social standing. Piercing was being practiced all over
the world. In South America and Africa Tribes would pierce their ears and then
stretch the piercing. The larger the piercing hole the higher the social status.
In native tribes in Central America many different piercings were part of the
transition into manhood. Some of those piercings included the lower lip, which
would then be stretched to hold wooden plates. The Aztecs and Mayans decorated
their lips with labrets of pure gold. Also in the ancient temples, the Mayan and
Aztec high ranking priests and shamans pierced their tongues as a ritual to
communicate with their Gods.
Piercing in ancient times were used
for many different reasons than why piercing is practiced today. The technique
has also changed. In the ancient times people would use sharpened bone and wood
for piercings. Today the procedure runs almost like a medical procedure.
Stainless steel needles that are sterilize and single use only are used for
piercing. The appropriate environment is very clean and safe. The history of
piercing has multiple angles and stories from all cultures. Our modern culture
developed the popularity of piercing during the hippie ear of the late 1960's
and the punk rock movement in the 1970's. Piercing continues to gain momentum in
today's world as society becomes more receptive to the look of piercing. The
history will continue to evolve in oumodern day culture and in societies of
different nations.
