The History of Body Piercing

      The status of body piercing as being a passing fad which is destined to decline or disappear could not be further from the truth. Although it is relatively new to modern western society, it has been around since before recorded history and has been documented in both modern and ancient civilizations from all over the globe.

      Not only has body piercing been around almost as long as mankind, it has historically been symbolic of both socio-politic power and physical might in many societies. From the septum and nipple piercings' symbolism of strength among Roman gladiators and warring tribal societies from all corners of the globe to the reservation of belly button rings to only the god like status of the Pharaoh himself in ancient Egypt, body piercing has held a special place in many diverse civilizations spanning thousands of years. These are only a few of many examples of the enduring nature of body piercing and it's permanent place in human civilization. The next time you hear someone comment that body piercing is nothing more than a "passing fad", you can rest assured that they are quite mistaken and laugh at their rediculous claim. To find out more about the long and fascinating history of body piercing throughout the world, read on! 

Ear Piercing

      Perhaps the most widely seen body piercing throughout history is the piercing of the ear lobes. This type of piercing is found in practically every civilization in the world and is even mentioned in the Bible at Genesis 22:42 where Abraham gave a gift of an earring to Rebecca as part of a wedding dowry to marry his son Issac. A similar practice is still followed today among some African and Middle Eastern societies where an earring is given to the wife as a symbol of the marriage and to ensure her financial security in the event of divorce. The size of the earring also denotes the weath of the wearer and is considered an important symbol of social status.

      Earrings were also very popular among pirates and most other sailors in years past. The earring (usually a single ring) was thought to somehow improve the sailors vision at sea and served the secondary function of paying for a proper burial should the body of a sailor wash up on shore after an accident at sea. The person finding the body was expected to take the earring as payment and to provide for the poor souls burial with the proceeds.  

      More coming soon!