History of Earrings
Since around 3,000 B.C., earrings have been a status, cultural and religious symbol.
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Earrings first made their debut in Northern Africa as early as 3,000 B.C. |
History of Earrings
Earrings
first made their debut in Northern Africa as early as 3,000 B.C. to identify
the wearer’s cultural status.
The main materials used to create
Egyptian pieces of jewelry were copper and gold worn by both men and women.
Earrings
have been found in graves in Iraq, Iran, Syria and Turkey, ancient Assyria. The
ancient Persian city of Persepolis, founded by Darius the Great around 518 B.C.
shows elaborate wall carvings of men wearing hoop earrings.
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Ancient Persian city of Persepolis, shows elaborate wall carvings of men wearing hoop earrings |
Earrings were
symbols of adornment, wealth and social standing, cultural identification, and
even currency throughout history.
Earrings
are mentioned in the Bible in the Song of Solomon verses 9-11 written in the 3rd
or 4th century:
“To me, my darling, you are like my mare among
the chariots of Pharaoh.
“Your
cheeks are lovely with ornaments, your neck with strings of beads.”
“We
will make for you ornaments of gold with beads of silver.”
In
the Middle Ages, earrings, necklaces and other jewelry was similar to clothing
when it came to representing rank and wealth.
By the 14th century, laws
controlling the amount of jewelry worn based on how much land was owned and the
wearer's social status restricted the wearing of jewelry.
Historically
both women and men wear earrings. Today earrings are worn for many of the same reasons
in the past, for status, decoration or cultural identity.
Wearing earrings is a cross-cultural beauty tradition, a timeless fashion statement that many people would feel naked without.
Wearing earrings is a cross-cultural beauty tradition, a timeless fashion statement that many people would feel naked without.
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What do Waist Beads Symbolize in Africa?
About African Healers and Witchdoctors
Hurricanes are Angry African Ancestors
Highest Temperature and Lowest Temperature in Africa
About African Night Running

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