Bodily Jewelry ? A History About Bodily Jewelry | Articles Advance

Some Information About 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.

The pharaohs of Egypt were the only people allowed to have their belly buttons pierced and this proves that belly buttons have not started being pierced today. Any other subject even of the royal family was not allowed to adorn themselves in these piercings which were made of gold.

The bible also documents the this practice as abundant. It was considered a mark of wealth and status. It was given in many cases as the bride price and were widely accepted. It also signified beauty.

Romans were another civilization that treasured piercings and considered piercing nipples of centurions to be a sign of strength and virility. It served as a mark of honor that signified undying loyalty to the service of the Roman Empire therefore was the preserve of a few. Gladiators had their genitals pieced since they were slaves. This prevented them from engaging in intercourse without the consent of their owners.

Another popular place to wear a piercing is on the tongue. For Mayan people and some American Indian tribes this is a religious symbol. They believe that the bloodletting involved brings them closer to God and is therefore desirable spiritually.

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.

It later became popular among sailors during the Elizabethan period, who liked to wear jewelry in their ears. This was most popular among men whereas now piercing tends to be more popular for women.

Different cultural events, like the emergence of rock and roll music, brought body piercing back into fashion. At this particular time, the trend was to have more unusual parts of the body pierced, like the nipples and the genitals. It is usual for conservative women to wear one pair of earrings.

Tattoos for women have become increasingly accepted over the last decade. More and more women are opting for elaborate body art and body piercing.

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