Body Piercing - The History Of Body Piercing

Body Piercing - The History Of Body Piercing

Body piercing is the practice of putting holes into the skin in which decorations or ornaments can be placed to enhance ones appearance. People have been doing this for thousands of years. It can be done for medical, cultural, religious or aesthetic reasons. Ornaments can be worn in almost any part of the human body but most commonly in the mouth, nose, belly button and ears. Different types are sometimes favored differently by men and women.

In modern day world, few people practice it for reasons other than ornaments. The known religions that have piercings for religious purposes are Hinduism and other cults. Otherwise piercings are done for fashion reasons and are most common among the youth. Though some old people still practice piercings, they are a rare sight indeed.

One of the first civilizations to practice this art was the Ancient Egyptians. Proof has been found in the form of five thousand year old mummies in tombs in Egypt that were discovered to have plugs in their ears. This is thought to be one of the first types of body art. It is believed that piercing was something that was done by the rich and important and is therefore a status symbol.

Today one of the most popular piercings is the belly button, however this is not a new trend. Egyptian Pharaohs had their belly buttons pierced with gold embellishments. Gold decorations were a sign of status and only the Pharaohs themselves were allowed to wear them. Nobody else, including members of the royal family were allowed to use these decorations.

Piercings were also used as a symbol of importance and wealth in biblical times. The richest people wore the best jewelry and it was often used instead of money when providing a dowry for a bride. In addition these people wore jewelry for the same reasons we do now, in order to enhance their appearance and look beautiful.

In the Roman empire, piercings were used as both a mark of importance and also of slavery. Gladiators were considered to be slaves and they were not allowed to engage in sexual intercourse. This rule was enforced by piercing the genitals so that they could not partake in sexual activities. The piercing of the nipples was a sign that you were loyal to the empire and many centurions had these adornments to symbolize their strength and virility.

Another common body part to be pierced both today and in history is the tongue. American Indians and people of the Mayan empire believed that the bloodletting of the tongue brought them closer to their Gods. These people also believed that nose piercings looked scary so they would pierce the noses of their warriors to make them look more formidable.

Between the periods of popularity for this practice in Ancient times and in modern times, piercing went through a time when it was not so popular. This was largely in western countries where the church made the practice into a sin.

Body adornments began to get popular again during the Elizabethan period. It was most popular among sailors and travelers, so it was mostly men that wore piercings. Nowadays it is more common in women and the most common part to pierce is the ears.

The art has been spreading to other parts like the nose and eyelids. Rock stars and their adoring fans have been known to be the most avid piercers with some of the most outrageous piercings. Conservatives have stuck to the ear piercings and only women are allowed.

By: Sarah Miles

Article Source: http://www.avidarticles.com