The history behind tattoo’s and piercings
Many people today get tattoos and piercings to make a fashion statement, in remembrance of someone, to rebel, or just to look cool. People do things to be able to fit into what’s “in” today in society. But, I’m sure if you were to ask 20 different who were the first people in history to bring about tattoos and piercings, maybe 2 out of those 20 people will be able to answer that question. Here you will learn where both tattoos and piecings originated from.
Tattoo in Greek is tatu, which means mark something. Tattoos began during the construction period in Ancient Egypt in 2000 B.C. They were most common on female Egyptians who would have various patterns and figurines from this time period tattooed on their bodies. Tattoos developed from Nubians and later flourished in the Middle Kingdom, where women would get tattoos done for ritualistic processes. It was found that women who got tattooed were either dancing girls or were concubines to someone of royalty. (“ A brief history of tattoos.” Tattoo You http://www.traifire.com/nuttyguy/marks/37895?hideheadrer=1.)
It later became popular in Japan, and other Asian cultures, especially during the Yayoi period. In which during this period men were tattooed accordingly to their rank. The Ainu people in Asia would tattoo women according to their religion and social status, and the coming of age and growing up. During the Edo period, tattoos were marks of criminals and those in gangs. They were marked with stripes either across their face or on their arms. Tattoos later became something voluntary. In Borneo females were the tattoo artist. It was tradition for the females to design tattoos that represented their owner’s status and the tribe they belonged to. The Kayan women would get delicate tattoos that looked like lace and the Dayak warriors would get tattoos on their hands representing them “taking a head”. (“A brief history of tattoos.” Tattoo You http://www.traifire.com/nuttyguy/marks/37895?hideheadrer=1.)
Piercings which started as far back as 5 thousand years ago originally identified with royalty, and represented courage and virility. Piercings were done for many different reasons. Egyptian Pharaohs would get their naval (belly button) pierced as a rite of passage (a ritual that changes a persons social or sexual status), Roman soldiers would pierce their nipples to represent manhood, and Mayans would pierce their tongues as a spiritual ritual. Many of the piercings people get today have much more reason then they will really know.
Earlobe piercings, practiced as early as 5 thousand years ago, were the first piercings ever attempted. During this time, many tribes believed that evil spirits and d emons would enter a person’s body through their ears, and metal would keep them from entering. So, by piercing their ear the metal from the jewelry would prevent the spirits and demons from going in. Sailors believed that piercing their ears would improve their eyesight while on a voyage. In many other societies, they were a sign of puberty, and in some cases, both parents of a child would pierce one side of their ear to show the dependency of the child. (Morrison, Cheyenne. “Body Piercing History.” 1998
Nose piercings originally came about in the Middle East 4 thousand years ago. In the Bible’s Book of Genesis, it was known that Abraham had given a “shanf” also known as a golden nose ring to his son’s first wife Rebekah. Nose piercings were originally brought by the Monghul Emperors, and were mainly used by females in India. They believed piercing the left side of their nose would make child birth much easier and less painful. The ideas of nose piercings were later taken by the hippies that had traveled to India. This was later taken by the punk rockers that used this idea as a form of rebelling against the conservatives. (Morrison, Cheyenne. “Body Piercing History.” 1998
Labret piercings go all the way back to Dogon tribes where they were used as religious sacrifices. Tribes in Africa would get their labret stretched large enough so that wooden plates of clay could be inserted. Getting a labret piercing in Ancient Aztec and Mayan tribes meant they were members of a higher social class. In the Makololo tribe, members, especially females, would get their upper lip pierced as a sign of beauty. Men wouldn’t really want to marry any female without one. It brought something more appealing to a woman’s face, as a beard would for a man. (Morrison, Cheyenne. “Body Piercing History.” 1998
Tongue piercings were used by the Ancient Aztecs and Central Mayans to draw blood to please the gods. They were also an altered state of consciousness so priest can communicate with the gods. Naval piercings as stated earlier, were used by Egyptian Pharaohs as a sign of manhood. They are more of a modern society piercing. They became really popular during the bikini period in the 1980’s. They were considered sexy, yet provocative. (Morrison, Cheyenne. “Body Piercing History.” 1998
Nipple piercing originally started as a fashion statement in the 14th century. Originally men would carry capes on them. Before clit piercings were used as a sexual stimulus, the clitoris was considered the “devils teat”. Females who would get caught having one would be accused of being a witch and prosecuted. Penis piercings also known as the “Prince Albert” originally got its name from Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria. Not only was the “Prince Albert” used for sexual pleasure, but it was originally used to hold the penis down on one side so the bulge wouldn’t be seen though the men’s tight pants. (Morrison, Cheyenne. “Body Piercing History.” 1998
Tattoos and piercings have their own significant meaning. They were more than just something nice to look at. They were gotten for religious purposes; they were used to show a distinction between social classes. They were a form of showing a females coming of age. And were a type of beauty and self expression. The meaning behind the two hasn’t changed so much over time either. Today, they are still a form of self expression and beauty, and they hold meaning to anyone who gets them. We owe a lot of appreciation to the Egyptians and the Japanese. Without them, tattoos and piercings wouldn’t be around and we wouldn’t have another more entertaining yet meaningful way of expressing ourselves.
