Contrary to popular belief, body piercings have been around for centuries. It is quite amazing to see what started out as a puberty ritual in most cultures is now adopted all over the world as a fashion trend. It’s safe to say that body piercing is one of the most primordial practices of body modification known to man.
However, it wasn’t until relatively recently that we realized just how old this tradition of body piercings is. It all began with the discovery of the first mummy by two tourists, in the Alps, on the border of Austria and Italy in 1991. Ötzi, the iceman, the 5,300-year-old mummy, not only had 61 tattoos covering most of his body but also had his ears pierced. Isn’t it fascinating that after the discovery of Ötzi, there were many such shreds of evidence recorded by researchers around the globe, of people modifying their bodies by piercing almost all major body parts like nose, ears, and nipples?
With the significant evidence collected over the past few decades, it is pretty likely that our ancestors were indulging in piercing their bodies long before they even learned to write. In most ancient civilizations, body piercing was a way to determine social stature, document an experience, or participate in a societal ritual.
However, these weren’t the only reasons why our ancestors were so outgoing in terms of modifying their bodies. Many people would indulge in the piercing of their genitals for sexual gratification as well like the Apadravya, which basically means inserting a barbell through the head of the penis, was practiced by so many males in order to enhance the sexual experience for their female partners.
Considering the generations of history of body piercings from all around the globe, we’d like to shed some light on the origins of various kinds of body piercings.
- Nose Piercing
- Septum Piercing
- Tongue Piercing
- Eyebrow Piercing
- Labret/ Lip Piercing
- Ear Piercing
- Navel Piercing
- Nipple Piercing
- Clitoral Hood Piercing
- Prince Albert Piercing
- Fraenulum Piercing
- Foreskin Piercing
- Palang & Apadravya Piercing
- Guiche Piercing
- Hafada (Scrotum) Piercing
1. Nose Piercing History
If you hail from the Indian subcontinent, a nose piercing wouldn’t really come as a surprise to you. But, did you know that the origin of nose piercing is actually in the Islamic culture? It’s true! The origin of nose piercing dates back to 4,000 years ago in the Middle East.
Once upon a time, Abraham asked his servant to find a suitable bride for his beloved son, Isaac. His dedicated search led him to Rebekah. When the deal of matrimony was being sealed, Isaac gifted his bride-to-be a single golden stud called the ‘Shanf’ which literally translates to ‘nose ring’.
This instance was even recorded in the Bible in Genesis 24:22 and is believed to be one of the first recorded evidence of a nose piercing.
In other parts of the world, the nomadic tribes of Berber and Beja in Africa still practice the art of nose piercing to this day. For the Bedouins of the Middle East, the size of the nose ring gifted to a bride-to-be is considered equally proportional to the family’s wealth which means it represents financial security for the female in the event of a divorce between the couple.
The dawn of the 16th Century brought travelers, in the form of Mughal Emperors, from the Middle East down to India. However, they didn’t come empty-handed. They brought the custom of nose piercing with them. After reaching India, the ‘Shanf’ or the nose ring became a ‘Nath’, which also means a nose ring. The Indian craftsmen would make these fine pieces of jewelry with precious metals and encrust them with beautiful gemstones. The Ayurveda, book of Indian Medicine, states that women should wear this in their left nostril because it is associated with the female reproductive system. Many people believe that a pierced left nostril makes the process of childbirth much easier and also helps in relieving menstrual pains.
While the nose piercing was becoming a cultural trend in the east, the west wasn’t far behind. In the 1970s, the western countries saw the rise of the Punk Movement which was a symbol of rebellion against conservative values. The nose piercing and its many variants saw a boom around this time. Goth was the term used for the rebels who would pierce their bodies.
Since the big Punk Movement, nose piercing is now accepted socially all over the west. In fact, people are now experimenting with various kinds of nose piercings to make it look funkier and make a fashion statement that will last another century.
2. Septum Piercing: The Origin in History
The septum is the cartilage in the nose that separates both the nostrils from each other. So, a septum piercing is essentially just another variation of a nose piercing. Can you believe that the septum piercing was the most common type of piercing among the primitive civilizations? It is really intriguing how it was even more popular than the ear-piercing.
A septum piercing lets you stretch your nostrils so that you can flaunt large pieces of jewelry. For the primitive civilizations, large septum jewelry was limited to pig’s tusk, pieces of animal bones, feathers, pieces of wood, and other natural materials.
Due to its fierce appearance, the septum piercing was majorly adopted by the warrior tribes in ancient times. And very rightly so, a tusk going through your nose will definitely make you look like a savage.
In Irian Jaya, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands, the practice of septum piercings is still very prevalent, with Pig’s tusks being the jewelry of choice for most tribes in the region. For the Asmat Tribe in the Irian Jaya region, the most prestigious septum piercing is decorated with a tusk known as ‘Otsj’ with a diameter of 25mm. An ‘Otsj’ is usually made with the leg bones of a pig. Whereas, in extreme cases, it would also be crafted using the tibia bones of enemies slain in battle. Now, that is one savage tribe you wouldn’t want to make enemies with!
The practice of septum piercings was not just limited to the east corner of the world. The Aztecs, Mayans, and Incas of the west had also adopted this method of body modification. However, the pieces of jewelry that they would wear included the use of precious metals and stones like gold and jade. This was mainly due to their religious beliefs.
Even today, the Cuna Indians of Panama are keeping this tradition alive by wearing thick, pure gold rings in their septums.
The concept of septum piercing slowly and steadily picked up momentum and was adopted almost all over the world by most of the tribes. For instance, an American Indian tribe from Washington was solely named on this practice by the French Fur Traders. The Nez Perce, which in French means ‘nose pierced’.
Even the aboriginals from Australia believed that a pierced septum will help them achieve a flatter nose which looks very aesthetically pleasing. They would pass a long stick or bone through the septum to achieve this effect.
The Indian sub-continent also picked up on this trend. Nepal, Tibet, and India came up with their own version of the septum jewelry. This was a pendant attached to a nose ring, which was known as the ‘Bulak’. Sometimes, the ‘bulak’ would be so large that it would become a hindrance in performing the most basic task of eating. People would have to lift the jewelry with every bite of their food.
It’s no surprise that this practice of septum piercing was not just done for its aesthetic appeal, it was also a ritual that was customary in some tribes like the Bundi Tribe of the Bismarck Ranges of Papua, New Guinea. Usually, it would be mandatory for every member to go through a septum piercing ritual between the ages of 18 and 22. They would use the thin end of a sweet potato plant to perform the piercing. Some tribes still perform this rite on children as young as 9 to 10-year-olds.
Myth Buster: Silver & Gold are the best for a fresh piercing.
As much as we would like to believe, the low quality of Gold & Silver runs the risk of containing Nickel in them. Experts will tell you to go for 24-Carat Gold instead but this quality of Gold is so malleable that it cannot be properly set into a durable piece of jewelry. Ergo, always go for titanium, bioplast, or medical grade stainless steel jewelry for all your piercings.
3. A Brief History of Tongue Piercing
Between the 14th and 16th Centuries, the ancient Aztecs, Maya of Central America, the Haida of Kwakiutl, and the Tlingit Tribes of Northwest America were the pioneers of the tongue piercings. They practiced this as a ritual of blood sacrifice, passing a thread through the piercing to enhance the flow of blood.
The priests and shamans of these cultures believed that if they pierced their tongue, it would help them create an altered state of consciousness which would make their communication with the Gods easier.
Stepping into the modern world of cities, around the 20th Century, the tongue piercing is now adopted as a form of body modification that is considered provocative and rebellious. However, the resurgence of tongue piercings began in the 1980s, when the first professional piercing shop, Gauntlet was opened in L.A. The owner of Gauntlet, to this day, is credited for bringing back the trend and promoting it, both, for its shock value and enhancement of oral sex.
4. History of Eyebrow Piercing
Unlike most body piercings, the origin of the eyebrow piercing is relatively recent. The first mention of eyebrow piercing in history is around the 1970s when a lot of people were quite open about experimenting with body modifications in different ways.
With the introduction of the Punk Movement, the eyebrow piercing quickly became a fad of the fashion world. The most popular practice involved placing a ring vertically on the outer side of each eyebrow. However, some daring souls would even experiment with a horizontal piercing as well.
Even though this piercing is considered a classic today, it remains just that. People, nowadays, have moved on to edgier body modifications.
5. Ear Piercing History
It’s a fair bet that ear piercing is one of the first kinds of piercing that man would have attempted on himself. Where is the proof, you ask? In 1991, two tourists traveled to the Alps somewhere on the border of Austria and Italy. There, they found the body of a 5,300-year-old mummy that had evidence of 61 tattoos on his body, and both his ears pierced, enlarged to a diameter of 7mm – 11mm. It’s common sense, really. The earlobes are undoubtedly the easiest part of the body that can be pierced.
As common as ear piercings are today, they weren’t just done for vanity, back in the day. In ancient times, pierced ears were commonly associated with superstitious beliefs. Many primitive tribes believed that evil spirits can enter a man’s body through the ears and an ear-piercing could prevent that by using metals as jewelry.
Sailors, much like the tribal people, believed that superstition had a huge part to play in their successful voyages at sea. For them, the belief that a pierced ear would give them better eyesight was all the motivation they needed to help them navigate better at sea. Even in the event of a sailor’s death, if his body washed up on the shore, the earring could make sufficient payment that would get him a proper Christian burial.
Piercing the ears is not just associated with superstitious beliefs. In many societies, it is also performed as a puberty ritual. For instance, in Borneo, the mother, and father, each pierces one ear of their child to signify the child’s dependence on them. Even to this day, in the US, parents pierce the ears of their little girls.
Did you know that earrings were initially meant only for the males of the society? Ear-piercing is only believed to be effeminate in western society. Many renowned men from the Elizabethan era such as Shakespeare, Sir Walter Raleigh, and Francis Drake wore the classic gold earring in their ears. Only the men of class and status in the society would be allowed to get their ears pierced. The evidence shows that this practice goes way back in history, during the time of the Roman Republic where Julius Caesar was reputed to make this a trend among the wealthy men of the society. However, now, ear-piercing has evolved as a universal practice, enjoyed by both men and women equally.
6. Labret/ Lip Piercing: A Brief History
Popular amidst the tribal cultures, labret/ lip piercings are now widely practiced all over the globe. For the Dogon Tribe of Mali, lip piercings hold a religious significance. The Nuba Tribe of Ethiopia also shares similar beliefs as the Dogons of Mali. These are the only two tribes in the world to flaunt a ring on their lips.
Everywhere else in the world, the lips are pierced with labrets which are mainly made with a pin of wood, ivory, metal, or quartz. However, the tribes of Central and South Africa like to take this simple piercing to the next level. They stretch their labrets so large that sizable wooden or clay plates can be fit into the piercing instead of small pins.
The ancient Maya and Aztecs reserved the lip piercing only for the higher-class male members of their tribe. They would wear stunning labrets crafted from pure gold, encrusted with gemstones.
Even the Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest and the Inuit people of Northern Canada & Alaska wore labrets fashioned from walrus ivory, abalone shells, bone, obsidian, and wood.
Back in the day, Dr. Livingstone, an African explorer, spent some time observing the women of the Makoldo Tribe of Malawi who wore big lip plates, called the ‘Pelele’ on their upper lip. So, one day, he finally asked the chief of the tribe the reason behind this strange body adornment. The chief’s answer was simple. He said, “ For beauty! The men have their beards, the women have nothing.”
With the onset of the pop-culture era, the practice of lip piercing, especially in the concrete jungles we call cities, has become far more subdued. We have adopted subtle, small barbells and studs as the jewelry of choice for our pierced lips.
7. Navel Piercing: First Mentions in History
Due to the fashion choices of our ancestors, which were mainly large pieces of cloth draped around the body or battle armor, there was no real reason why the navel would be visible. This is why it was never considered a body part that needed adornment. Therefore, there is no recorded evidence of navel piercings in the primitive civilizations.
Navel Piercing is a relatively new concept that originated when the Bikini was introduced in the 1950s. With this invention, the navel of a female was considered a provocative part of their body because of its similarity to the female genitals. When Madonna, the renowned singer, popularized the midriff in the 1980s, it became clear that the navel piercing is not just a fad. It is a fashion statement that is here to stay.
This revolution reached the masses in September 1994, when Suzy Menkes of the New York Times wrote an article describing an instance from the London Fashion Show. Christy Turlington was one of the most promising models at the time and she was spotted flaunting a ring in the middle of her navel. The next day, Naomi Campbell heard of this public display of confidence by Christy and got one of her own. So, for Isaac Mizrahi’s fashion show, they both walked out together flaunting their midriffs adorned with similar rings.
Check out our collection of navel pieces.
8. The Origin of Nipple Piercing in History
It is believed that the Roman Centurions were the first to bring about the nipple piercing revolution. They wore fitted leather armor breastplates that would occasionally have an opening where the nipples are assumed to be. It was believed that the centurions would tuck their capes in these openings so they would stay in place. This practice led some people to think that they may actually have their nipples pierced.
But all of this might just be hear-say. The real origin of nipple piercing began in the middle of the 14th Century when women started wearing clothes with really deep necklines, so much so that half their breasts would be visible. It didn’t end just there. In the same century, Queen Isabella of Bavaria introduced ‘Garments of the Grand Neckline’. These dresses would have an opening down to the navel, exposing the breasts to the world which gave the women another body part to adorn with jewelry. It started with the application of rouge to the nipples and evolved to placing studded rings or small caps on them. They even started piercing their nipples and passed gold chains encrusted with diamonds through them.
The nipple piercing saw the next stage in its evolution in the 1980s when the ‘Bosom Ring’ gained popularity. These ‘Anneux de Sein’ were sold in expensive Parisian jewelry shops. Women would get both their nipples pierced, insert one ring into each nipple and then link them with a delicate chain. This would keep their breasts in a state of constant excitation while making their nipples larger. However, this practice soon faded away due to the constant outrage from the medical community. They believed that this was against the natural principles of the human body.
Myth Buster: Nipple piercing makes it impossible to breastfeed.
This cannot be any further away from the truth. The female breasts have about 20 milk ducts each. So, the chances of a nipple piercing destroying all 20 of the milk-producing ducts are negligible unless you get multiple piercings. Moreover, not all ducts are required to feed a baby.
There is a reason why men and women still prefer to get their nipples pierced, the most conspicuous reason being that it enhances the sexual experience by making the breasts larger, more sensitive to touch, and sexually more attractive.
This is why the Karankawa Indians of Texas practiced the art of nipple piercing and why it is still practiced by the Kabyle Tribe in the mountains of Algeria.
9. History of Clitoral Hood Piercing
The origin of clitoral hood piercing is not clearly recorded in body piercing history, but it is believed that the Greeks were the first to identify the clitoris over 2,500 years ago. They called it the ‘Kleitoris’.
The first recorded evidence of the clitoris was in 1953 when a married man discovered a clitoris for the first time. Due to the lack of knowledge at the time, the man called it the ‘Devil’s Teat’ and accused his wife of practicing witchcraft. Later, she was executed for this.
The term ‘clitoris’ was first used in the English language in 1615 when it was used to describe a small, sensitive organ located under the upper apex of the Labia Minora (inner lips of the vagina) in one of the early anatomy books. It is assumed that either during or shortly after this time, the benefits of nipple piercings came to light, around the 1800s. Soon after, someone must have experimented with the clitoris and derived the conclusion that this was the safest area to pierce in order to enhance sexual sensitivity.
10. Prince Albert Piercing: A Look into its History
Back in 1825, Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert became widely popular for getting his penis pierced before his marriage to the Queen. When news spread of this, this kind of penis piercing was coined after him.
Around this time, Beau Brummel started the trend of tight-fitted men’s trousers. Due to the lack of movement provided by this kind of pants, the men felt the need to hold their penis to one side in order to avoid an unattractive bulge. To achieve this, some men resorted to getting the head of their penis pierced so they could insert a hook there which would hold their penis securely in place which came to be known as the ‘Dressing Ring’. Even the tailors at the time adapted to this change. Before picking up any new order, they would always ask whether the gentleman dressed to the left or the right.
As painful as this piercing sounds, it also has some advantages that are worth going through the trouble for. Because of its effectiveness during sexual intercourse, Prince Albert piercing is one of the most popular kinds of male genital piercing.
Shop from our collection of Prince Albert piercing jewelry here.
11. Fraenulum Piercing: A Brief Account in History
After Prince Albert piercing, Fraenulum piercing is one of the most sought after body piercings. The fraenulum, commonly abbreviated as ‘frenum’, is the small ridge of flesh adjoining the foreskin to the glans of the penis.
It is no surprise that there are only limited recorded pieces of evidence of the fraenulum piercing. One of the examples cited is of the Timorese Tribe of Indonesia that practices fraenulum piercing wherein they insert brass rings to enhance stimulation during sexual intercourse.
12. History of Foreskin Piercing
The concept of foreskin piercing goes back to the time of circumcision. One of the first mentions of this piercing can be seen during the games in Ancient Greece. At these games, the athletes would perform naked which would make their penises move about freely. To avoid this, they would pierce the foreskin on their penis and pass a ribbon through it which would then be tied to the base of their penis. The ribbon later evolved into a leather thong which was referred to as a ‘Kynodesme’, which is an amalgamate of the words ‘Kuon’, meaning ‘foreskin’ and ‘Desmos’, meaning ‘fastening band’.
While the Greeks were using the ‘Kynodesme’, the Romans practiced Infibulation which involved getting two piercings going through the foreskin where they would insert a lock (fibula) through them.
13. Palang & Apadravya Piercing: In The History Books
The ancient book of sex, the Kama Sutra, can be credited for enlightening the world in so many ways. But did you know that back in 700AD, the ancient practice of vertically piercing the glans of the penis was first mentioned in the Kama Sutra? This piercing was known as the Apadravya.
As stated in the Kama Sutra, “the people of southern countries think that true sexual pleasure cannot be obtained without perforating the Lingam, and they, therefore, cause it to be pierced like the lobes of the ears of an infant, pierced for earrings.”
Palang, on the other hand, is a piercing that originated among the Kayan, Kelabit, Dayak, and Iban tribes of Sarawak on the island of Borneo. Palang, often incorrectly called the Ampallang Piercing, involves piercing the glans of the penis horizontally and inserting a barbell. The term ‘Palang’ literally means ‘crossbar’ in Iban and is often related to the timber roof supports of the long-houses of the tribal people in that area symbolizing that the male holds the protective powers among the family members.
Read more about the difference between Ampallang and Apadravya piercings.
14. Guiche Piercing: The Origin in History
In the French dictionary, the term ‘guiche’ literally means an opening. The guiche piercing involves piercing of the male perineum, the area between the anus and testicles. The roots of this practice are believed to lie in the Samoan culture where it is performed as a puberty ritual.
Just before World War II, a traveler named Doug Malloy traveled to Tahiti where he met an Australian sailor by the name of Reggie Jones who was a jump-ship. During their conversation, he told Doug about this piercing and offered to perform it on him.
While in Tahiti, Doug did his research and figured that the true origin of this practice was in fact in Tahiti. The local people performed the guiche piercing on teenagers between the ages of 12 and 14. Once the piercing healed, they would be given a leather thong with a small weight hanging from it. As is custom, the ritual was performed by the ‘Mahu’, a transvestite male who had taken on the role of a woman. The ‘Mahu’ were highly respected members of the Tahitian religion, believed to possess magical powers.
While Doug found the roots of this tradition to be in Tahiti, for the ancient Polynesian mariners, the Guiche Piercing was nothing more than a navigational tool. Quite a bold choice, wouldn’t you say? They would often get a guiche piercing and hang a small stone using a thread in the opening which would swing in different directions when they would squat. For them, this was the most effective way to gauge their direction at sea by tracking the movement of the waves with the help of the hanging testicles.
Shop our guiche piercing pieces.
15. A Brief History of Hafada Piercing
The Hafada piercing is believed to have originated in Arabia but later moved on to Northern Africa and the Middle East. Initially performed as a puberty ritual, the Hafada piercing was performed on the left side of the scrotum. But, nowadays, it is performed in various places on the scrotum or as a ladder where multiple rings can be stacked in a row.
In recent times, this kind of piercing is said to have been brought in practice in Europe by the French Foreign Legionnaires when they were stationed in Lebanon and Syria.
There is no real evidence of Hafada piercings being practiced by any primitive tribes. It’s mainly an invention of the modern western world as a means to enhance sexual pleasure.
As we know it, change is the only constant. As we evolved through the centuries, so did our choices of body adornment. The scenario has changed drastically. You are less likely to be judged nowadays for having body piercings. Even sex is no longer taboo. People are now more open to try different kinds of piercings to satisfy their partners. It would be safe to say that this is a good time to experiment with all kinds of body piercings. So, flaunt your wild side and get a piercing to flaunt amongst your squad!
At Body Jewelry by The Chain Gang we produce some of the very finest Quality Body Piercing Jewelry and Adult Toys in the Industry. We are also always happy to help you whenever we can. Just email us. [email protected] www.TheChainGang.com |