Earrings: A Favorite Through the Centuries

That earrings have been a favorite throughout history is a documented fact. The oldest mummified body in the world was found frozen in an Austrian Glacier in 1991. Tests showed the body to be over 5,000 years old. The body had pierced ears and the holes had been enlarged to 7-11mm diameter. Earlier information , also, indicated earrings unearthed by archaeologists in Iraq date to about 2,500 BC.

In 3000 BC, it is stated there were two types of earrings: the hoop, and the more elaborate pendant. From 1559 B.C. to 1085 B,C. in Egypt, earplugs became very fashionable. These type of piercings and earrings are seen even on King Tutankhamen.
(source: http://professorices.blogspot.com/2005/07/history-of-earrings.html)

Additionally, Wikipedia says "One of the early signs of earrings worn by males are from the walls of Perspolis in ancient Persia, the carved images of the soldiers from various parts of the Persian Empire which are displayed on some of the surviving walls of the palace showing the soldiers wearing an ear ring".

So, throughout History, earrings have been a favorite piece of jewelry. It is thought that ear piercing for this purpose is likely the first body piercing

.Noteworthy, is that men probably were the first to wear earrings Several experts agree that.ears were probably first pierced for magical purposes, very many primitive tribes believe that demons can enter the body through the ear, because demons and spirits are supposed to be repelled by metal, ear-piercing prevents them entering the body

Piercing of the ear lobes. is found in most civilizations in the world .It is mentioned in the Bible in Genesis 22:42 where Abraham gave a gift of an earring to Rebecca as part of a wedding dowry to marry his son Issac. A similar practice is still followed today among some African and Middle Eastern societies where an earring is given to the wife as a symbol of the marriage and to ensure her financial security in the event of divorce. The size of the earring also denotes the wealth of the wearer and is considered an important symbol of social status. As was true in ancient times. ear piercing with the wearing of earrings , has, in the beginning, as it is now, been used as a personal expression, a religious ritual, an official, or royal distinction, or more often recently, a trend in fashion.

Approximately 1440 BC., the Biblical book of Exodus 21: 5-6 describes how Hebrew servants that pledged allegiance to their master would have their ear held to a door post and pierced with an awl. This would indicate identification with a particular family.

The discovery of jewelry dating back to the bronze ages in Europe and the British Isles shows that the people of that time probably pierced and stretched their lobes with heavy bronze jewelry.

Among the jewelry found in tombs of the Archaic period were large disc earrings. The techniques here are difficult to define but they actually used granulation in concentric patterns. They also used filigree and glass paste. This was probably a trend of the time as they have been found in several tombs. The disc earring is originally a Lydian type of jewelry and became a fashionable trend during the archaic period with the strong East Greek influence spreading in the second half of the sixth century BC..

Valise-type earrings were mostly made in Vulci and were very widespread. during that time, also.

Granulation is the art of decorating smooth surfaces of gold jewelry with patterns composed of tiny granules of gold. It was invented in Mesopotamia in the third millennium BC and was subsequently introduced to Anatolia, Syria, Egypt, Cyprus and Mycenaean Greece. The collapse of the Bronze Age civilization brought with it the disappearance of such sophisticated arts in Greece, but they survived in the Near East and from there they were reintroduced in Greece in the ninth century and transferred to Italy during the second half of the eight century.

During the archaic period, "bigger was better". Large hanging earrings, long necklaces and heavy pendants were in style and worn by both men and women. Wo The fashion of the time was large brooding figures. Women were excessively adorned and wore large diadems, bracelets and circlets, hair spirals, heavy earrings in the shape of grape clusters, and large heavy pendants

These were the fashion all throughout the fifth and fourth centuries. Necklaces were paired up. They would wear big necklaces with assorted beads, then another one with a big hanging pendant. Earrings with a long oval pendant and a smaller one hanging below were also common.. In the early third century, bead necklaces and earrings remain popular as do torques, which were rings of color ed hair (of an animal) or feathers around the neck. In the late classical era body jewelry became more and more popular as the fashions tended towards a progressive state of undress.

These styles stayed popular throughout the Hellenistic period as well as the Roman period. During the Hellenistic periods, excessively complex shapes and decoration characterized the jewelry, including earrings..

Jewelry becomes omnipresent during the Hellenistic period. It becomes unisex and is worn by people whether they are naked or dressed. In images, women were often represented with only slippers , earrings and a torque or necklace. The heavy necklaces of the classical era were replaced by strands of beads and torque.

Wealth and nobility was expressed in adornment by both sexes. More men than women wore earrings. Julius Caesar himself reflected and enhanced that trend of rings in the ears of both men and women. " earrings were more popular among men than women; no less a he-man than Julius Caesar brought back to repute and fashion the use of rings in the ears of men."

Since the women, unlike the men, did not have status distinction by their dress , hairstyles and jewelry were the only distinction possible. The importance of jewelry to the status of women is apparent through certain historical events. It is reported that when the Oppian law was passed in 195BC curbing the use of jewelry and suggesting it be handed over for war materials, women demonstrated against this in the streets.

The type and amount of jewelry worn by women varied, but the richest women were the most obviously adorned by amount and style.. Amber jewelry was only worn by lower class women and was thought vulgar by the wealthy who chose gold jewelry. Other items used to make jewelry include pearls, colored glass beads and polished stones. These would be inset in gold and would vary in size and style, depending upon status. It was possible to tell a lot about a woman in ancient Rome by the jewelry she wore.
The types of jewelry worn included necklaces with adornments such as pendants, amulets. Fibula, which are similar to safety pins were used as fasteners. These were often adorned to make them a piece of jewelry being both functional and beautiful. Earrings were popular and came in both hoop and drop styles. Rings were usually inset with stones or carvings.

Several experts report that early sailors encountered primitive tribes who believed that pierced ears improved eyesight, This trait , so important to sea faring men , is thought to be the main reason sailors pierced one or both ears, Another recognized benefit , was with the gold hoop from an ear, a sailor if washed up on a strange shore, could purchase care or a Christian burial with the worn gold. Seems a practical solution , and perhaps explains the depiction of pirates wearing gold hoops in the ears.

Ear piercing is an almost universal practice for men and women, Only in western society was it was originally deemed effeminate.That now is moving back toward the historical stand. At various times in history men wore elaborate earrings; as previously discussed, as well as during the Elizabethan era when many famous men such as Shakespeare, Sir Walter Raleigh and Francis Drake wore gold rings in their ears.

Some say that we humans have never been satisfied with our body,we scar, paint,shave or grow hair on it, tan. bleach, or pierce it in some form of body modification.It has been said that now in the industrialized society we are adorning ourselves in ways that are from hundreds to thousands of years old.Anyone attending or seeing a documentary of a Tattoo Convention with all the piercing and skin art would agree.

In the early and mid 1900's several related events influenced the history of earrings .After WWI , shorter hairdos became very popular. Earrings were perfect for filling the space from short hair to shoulder and once again became a popular fashion statement.

During the 1920s art deco styles took hold, recognized by their straight or angled designs. Very long chandelier earrings were also quite popular during this time. Just as it was in Ancient Times, and is true today.

During the 1930s, the clip on was invented . Because clip ons held the earring more snuggly than screw backs,developed shortly after. they became the number one choice for many years to come . Pierced ears faded into the background.
The clip itself is a two-part piece attached to the back of an earring. The two pieces closed around the earlobe, using mechanical pressure to hold the earring in place..

*Ear screws were also developed shortly after the clips, They screwed onto the lobe, allowing for exact adjustment A good alternative for those who find clips too painful

During the 1950s, earrings were light and aerodynamic.

By the 1960s earrings had become fun and innovative. Texture and color was very important. Prior to the 1960s earrings were dedicated to either evening wear or day wear with the evening wear earrings being more elegant. During the 1960s this all changed when the distinction between what was acceptable for evening or day faded away.

By the 1970s we had entered an "everything goes" style to earrings and pierced ears had made a comeback. Women were buying earrings in large quantities for every occasion.

Today it's difficult to find someone who doesn't have pierced ears. Today men are as interested in earrings again . Children now get their ears pierced often at a very young age, even sometimes as babies. Women may have anywhere from one set of holes to piercings right up the ear.More men are becoming interested in multiple ear piercing, also.

Multiple piercings in one or both ears first emerged in mainstream America in the 1970s. Initially, the trend was for females to wear a second set of earrings in the earlobes, or for males to double-pierce a single earlobe. Asymmetric styles with more and more piercings became popular, eventually leading to the cartilage piercing trend.

In addition, earlobe stretching, while common in primitive cultures for thousands of years, started to appear in Western civilization in the 1990s, and is now a fairly common sight. However, these forms of ear piercing are uncommon compared to standard ear piercing.

The fashion of earrings has come a long way over the years and its here to stay!!!

Sources used:
"Jewels & Women; The Romance, Magic and Art of Feminine Adornment" Marianne Ostier, Horizon Press, New York, 1958)

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/455517/jewelry_in_ancient_rome.html?page=2 robertoms2003, published Nov 21, 20070

http://www.surfindia.com/matrimonials/history-of-earrings.html

http://professorices.blogspot.com/2005/07/history-of-earrings.html

http://www.jewelry-paideia.com/reference/ref-jewelry-jewelry-8.php

http://www.montanabodyart.com/content.asp?content=14

http://www.bodyjewelleryshop.com/body_piercing_information/history_of_body_piercing.cfm#top

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/452455/ancient_egyptian_fashion_and_beauty.html?page

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/455517/jewelry_in_ancient_rome.html

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/606101/the_lives_laws_and_legends_of_women.html

Wikipedia,the online encyclopedia

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