Piercing is an ancient custom of body modification, which has been spread widely among people throughout time. Many people believe that this trend was started by the Romans. Romans used to pierce their nipples as an indication of bravery; they also used this piercing to fasten their cloaks. Girls of Victorian society also frequently had piercings on their nipples with a belief that it will help them have enhanced breast. Among the Borneo, several sort of genital piercing such as ampallang and apadravya was introduced by the Kama Sutra. The Carafa Indians wear a thin cane in their lower lips as an indication of their prime lives. Yet, African women have multiple and big piercings as a sign of discouraging slave trade. So, it is seen that body piercing is a significant trend with a diverse of historical value or religious belief.
Most body piercings of ancient societies usually done to show the individual's status in their community or as an amulet to eradicate bad spirits. At the present days, though science and technology has been improved farer and the beliefs and cultures have been changed vastly, some people observe this custom as well with the same belief.
The ancient primeval Egyptians used to get navel or belly button piercing as a sign of royalty. That is why the common people were not allowed to get this sort of body modification.
Several sorts of genital piercing were done by the people of different communities with diverse belief such as Arab youths get a piercing on the left side of their scrotum that is supposed to prevent their testis from returning the body. Again, women of some African tribes get their genitalia pierced for erotic stimulation. Genital piercing, in both male and female, is sometime also used as a form of discipline.
Most tribal communities practice ear lobe and earring piercing along with stretched forms of those; these communities include the people of Burma, Northern India, ancient Egypt and some African tribes. African Samburu warriors used Ivory ear plugs, whereas the Pokot and Masai tribes use many rings in their stretched earlobes.
African Kudi, Lobi and Dogon girls get piercings on their noses, ears and lips in order to wear ornaments in those places; those piercings assist to identify their tribes also protect them from bad spirits. The trend of nose rings became admired among the mughals in the Indian sub-continent, during that period it was used to indicate whether an individual, man or woman, is married or single. Girls from African Pokot tribe use lip plugs when they are wedded; this is also performed by Turkama members, both men and women. Also, in the Amazonian tribe, some men wear lip plugs to show their status in the community.
North American Nunivak tribes wear labret or lip piercings to denote status. Clayoquot tribes also use piercigns to denote status, but they use silver jewelries in the septums. Besides, the tribesmen of Papua New Guinea use septum piercings.
So, it is clearly seen that the trend of piercing has an ancient root with a variety of significance among the people of various communities throughout the world. People of different communities observe this trend with their own tradition and belief. Nowadays, this form of body modification is becoming more and more popular among the folks. Today, many people have piercings just to enhance their beauty as they find this custom as an attractive one.
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