History of piercing

Body modifications are an ancient form of art that have existed for as long as 30,000 years. People that lived in old Australia practiced penile incision to elongate the labia. The Nubians practiced elongating their skulls and tattoo art. Ear piercing was a common form of body art among ancient Egyptians, the Mayans and Aztecs practiced tongue piercing and the native North Americans used lip piercing to show their jewelry collection.

The remains of a pierced mummified body found over 5,000 years ago is said to be the oldest form of body piercing. Egyptians appreciated piercings and even went as far as restring certain types to the royal family. This form of body art is also mentioned in the Bible, the Old Testament saying that it is sign of beauty and wealth. It is obvious that piercing was a sign of status and attractiveness in Biblical times.

Warriors of the Roman Empire pierced their nipples as a sign of power, virility and their dedication to the empire. Genital piercing was practiced on gladiators for practical reasons; they used it to tie the organ back to the testicles, thus preventing injuries and also prevented him from having intercourse without the owner's agreement. There was always money to be made because a stud fee could be charged for the opportunity to raise the gladiator's offspring.

Later, during the Renaissance and Elizabethan eras, men members of the high class had to have at least one ring to show their position and wealth in the community. As a response to this trend, women started wearing plunging necklines and nipple piercings. As it added sensitivity to certain areas, piercings continued to hold interest for members of the nobility for a few hundred years.

In the last hundred of years, ear piercings became, along with tattoos, the most popular form of body art. Nose piercing also started to gain popularity especially in young people and the interest for body piercings quickly increased in the 1980s and 1990s. Celebrities or publics figures were the first to display a variety of piercings followed by ordinary people or high-school students.