Just a few decades ago, it was considered extreme to have more than two piercings in each woman's ear. Then came the guys, with one hole in the right or left lobe, depending. It was quickly followed by nose and navel piercings. But what's the scoop on the real history of piercing - the ancient history?
No one has been able to pin point an exact date for the emergence of body piercing, but its thought to be several millennia old.
Ear piercing is by far the oldest recorded method of body piercing, and the evidence of it had been frozen in time, quite literally. The oldest mummified body in the world (which has been dated back over 5,000 years) was found in an Austrian glacier in 1991. Not only was this man pierced, but he was also tattooed, making him an important discovery in the history and culture of most all forms of body modification.
Next in popularity throughout the ages is the piercing of the septum. Believe it or not, throughout history, septum piercing has been even more popular than piercing the nostrils. Septum piercing was most popular among warrior tribes, and more than likely was used to enhance the image of the strong, martial men. It was certainly used to intimidate others, which is easy to understand. Armed with a pierced septum, a man can take on the appearance of tusks not dissimilar to those of a wild boar.
Nose piercing dates back to about 4000 years ago in the Middle East. In fact, a direct reference to nose piercing can be found in the book of Genesis, when Abraham is seeking out a wife for his son Isaac. He provided his oldest and most trusted servant with gifts for his son's bride-to-be, one of which was a golden Shanf. In some biblical translations, the word has been simply translated to "golden earring." However, the actual translation is nose-ring.
Tongue piercing, which is so wildly popular now, was first popularized by the early Meso american tribes. It was popular among the Aztec and Maya, and also among native tribes of the Pacific Northwest. These tribes used the craft of tongue piercing in order to draw their own blood as propitiation to their gods. It was also used to take the pierced person (in this case, usually a priest or shaman) into an altered state, making them better able to communicate with their gods.
Belly-button, or navel piercing, dates back to the ancient Egyptians. In their culture, this, along with eyebrow piercing was a body modification restricted only to royalty.
Piercing of the genitals also bears a long and culturally diverse history in places like China, Borneo, Samoa and Roman, to name a few. Some have used this method to curb the sexual appetite, while others have chosen it as a way to enhance their erotic pleasure. Women can choose to have their labia pierced, or they can opt for a clitoral hood piercing. However, if you're a woman considering a genital piercing to enhance the power of your orgasms, be warned there is no scientific proof that it has any effect on the power or frequency of orgasm, and should the procedure somehow go wrong, you can be left frigid and impotent! Men have over 7 different methods available to pierce their genitals, and along with the motivation to enhance their own sexual enjoyment, many of them have opted for this procedure to enhance the intimate enjoyment of their partners. Prince Albert is a famous member of the royal family who opted for erotic piercings. In addition to the actual genitals, nipples are also a popular erotic piercing, favored by both men and women.
It is important to follow your piercing artists directions prior to and after getting a piercing. Body piercing runs a risk of infection, a risk that grows or lessens depending on what type of piercing you choose to get. Make sure to ask lots of questions, carefully follow any and all directions, and check out the piercing artist you'll visit. Insure that they supply you with all of the information you'll need, and also that they are clean, sterile and legitimate. Resist any and all urges to perform a piercing yourself, or to rely on your friends to handle it for you, as there can be some very serious health risks. As with any type of body modification, use extreme caution and common sense before you run headlong into a lot of misery and doctor's visits.
It should also be noted that while your piercing is new, you'll want to opt for gold piercing jewelry. Oftentimes, many people who have gone under the piercing needle have sensitive skin and allergic reactions that can be triggered by other materials, like silver, nickel, etc.
