One of the amazing things about the world of body art is that there’s so much history involved. Not only do tattoos have a long and interesting history dating back to ancient Egypt and beyond, but piercing—another form of body art we offer at Certified Tattoo Studios—has a similarly rich and intriguing history.

You might be familiar with the many different types of ear piercings, facial piercings, and body piercings out there, but do you know when some of those piercings first appeared, or where they originated? If you’re interested in learning more about the history of piercings (and maybe interested in getting a new piercing yourself), read on to find out all about this unique form of body art.

A Human Canvas

It’s no secret that many cultures and many people over the years have seen the human body as a living canvas for adornment and modification. It’s one of the reasons why tattoos and piercings continue to be popular and, if anything, only grow in popularity as the years go by.

This has been the case across numerous cultures and time periods, and dates back to as early as the ninth century B.C.E. Some of the oldest known evidence of piercings comes from stone artwork in Nimrud, Iraq which shows a man who is believed to have a pierced ear. Additionally, one of the oldest known mummified humans—over 5,000 years old—was discovered to have an ear piercing.

There have been many different sorts of piercings that have been used over the years in various tribes and cultures. For many of these peoples, piercing is an essential part of their culture and a sacred tradition. Some of the most prevalent types of piercing throughout the world (and throughout history) are earlobe and lip piercings. Many of these types of piercings have been found in depictions of cultures through art and the written word and piercing as a form of body art evolved independently in areas without contact from other people. Evidence of piercings dating back thousands of years has been found in diverse locations around the globe like North America, The Amazon, Asia, Africa, Polynesia, and New Zealand. 

Reasons for Piercings

While nowadays there isn’t always a meaning or reason behind piercings other than for adornment or personal choice, some of the first piercings came about due to spiritual or religious reasons. Ancient tribes believed that piercings offered protection from demons and spirits because metal repelled such beings. Wearing metallic jewelry in piercings was a way to ensure bad spirits and dangerous demons were kept at bay.

Certain types of piercings and the jewelry used in piercings have also been used to show what tribe or clan a person belonged to. Piercings were (and still are in some cultures) a readily identifiable way to show who you were and where you hailed from. Similarly, some piercings were used as a way to indicate hierarchy or social status or to symbolically show a certain rite of passage or milestone in a person’s life.

Another reason that both piercings and tattoos have been used historically is to appear fierce and strong to enemies or to enhance attractiveness or adhere to a certain cultural beauty standard.

Just like with tattoos, there has even been a historical link to sailors and the sea when it comes to piercings. Sailors reportedly pierced their ears to improve their eyesight and therefore their sailing acumen as they sailed the vast open seas. If tragedy struck a crew of sailors and their bodies washed ashore, the jewelry worn in their ear piercings could also be used to pay for burial or any outstanding debts.

Types of Historical Piercings

Because of how easily piercable the skin of the earlobe is, earlobes are thought to be the first type of ear piercing. There is historical evidence of numerous different types of piercings, though, including stretched piercings in the ears and lips.

In ancient Egypt, there is evidence of belly button piercings, particularly in the royal family. This particular type of piercing is thought to have been a status symbol that denoted a person’s high ranking status and importance within Egyptian society.

In New Guinea and Solomon Island, there has been evidence of septum piercings amongst warrior cultures. Warriors would reportedly wear tusks pierced through their septums to appear strong and fierce towards rivals and enemies.

Nose piercings have been popular throughout history, too, and continue to rise in popularity today. Historically, nose piercings were most popular in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries in India.

In Ancient Rome, nipple piercings were a common whey to signify strength. Julius Caesar reportedly had his nipples pierced to show his unity with his men and his strength as a leader.

The Aztecs, Mayans, and numerous other Native American cultures were also known to pierce their tongues. This was done as a part of religious rituals and was believed to bring the person whose tongue was being pierced closer to their gods.

As time went on, during the Renaissance and Elizabethan times in Europe, most male members of noble families would have at least one earring, if not numerous earrings, to show their immense wealth. Large pearl and diamond earrings were popular because they were easily identifiable and instantly showed the wearer’s wealth.

It’s easy to think of piercing as a modern form of body modification, but in reality, there is a rich and complex history of piercing throughout time and place. Various cultures and peoples all over the world have practiced the art of piercing for various reasons throughout time—reasons varying from spiritual symbolism to signs of status and wealth. 

Here at Certified Tattoo Studios, we’re all about body art—including piercing—and honoring this time-tested method of expressing oneself. We have two expert resident body piercing specialists at our West Colfax Location, and have over fifteen years in the body piercing business. If you’re interested in getting a new piercing, whatever the reason, we’d love to help you out! Contact us today to get started.