| Although piercing parts of the body - other than | | | | rockers and their followers adopted the practice in |
| the ears - may seem to be a recent fashion and | | | | the 1970s, and it was revived again in the 1990s. |
| lifestyle trend, body piercing actually has a rich | | | | Tongue piercing: Tongue piercing was practiced by |
| history that dates back to ancient times. Whether | | | | Aztec and Mayan priests and shamans, in the |
| as a means of personal expression, to designate | | | | belief that it would help them better communicate |
| societal standing, or as part of religious ritual, body | | | | with their gods. |
| piercing has been around almost as long as | | | | Ear piercing: A passage from Exodus in the Bible's |
| mankind. | | | | Old Testament says, "He shall take him to the |
| Navel piercing: Although navel piercing is extremely | | | | door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an |
| popular today, in the ancient Egyptian civilization | | | | awl." The oldest mummy ever found, dating back |
| only the royal family was allowed to pierce their | | | | five centuries, had his ear pierced, and there is |
| belly buttons - and anyone who broke this rule | | | | evidence that, over two centuries ago, people |
| would be executed! | | | | living on the Island of Cyprus pierced their ears. |
| Nostril piercing: A passage from Genesis in the | | | | Tribes in South America and Africa would pierce |
| Bible's Old Testament says, "...The man took out a | | | | their ears and stretch the holes; the larger the |
| gold nose ring...." Originating in the Middle East over | | | | hole, the greater the person's stature in the tribe. |
| 4,000 years ago, nostril piercing is still practiced by | | | | Everyone from the Romans to the Tlingit tribe in |
| Bedouins today. Husbands present their wives | | | | Alaska viewed ear piercing as a sign of wealth |
| with a ring at marriage, and the size of the ring | | | | and stature. Even sailors pierced their ears, in the |
| denotes a family's wealth. The practice traveled | | | | belief that it gave them better eyesight. |
| from the Middle East to India in the 17th century, | | | | Lip piercing: Historically, Aztecs and Mayan men |
| where the type of jewel worn in the nose would | | | | underwent labret piercing and wore ornamental |
| designate social standing. Today, Indian women | | | | gold labrets to distinguish themselves as members |
| typically pierce their left nostril, in a spot | | | | in high social standing. Among some African tribes, |
| associated with easing the pain of childbirth. Nostril | | | | lip piercing carried religious significance, while others |
| piercing traveled to the West in the late 1960s, | | | | perceived labrets as beautiful body adornment, |
| when young people searching for spiritual | | | | and for still others, it was part of the rite of |
| enlightenment in India returned home. Punk | | | | betrothal. |