The practice of wearing earrings and piercing one’s body goes way, way back in history and across the globe thousands of years B.C. Records of piercing are found in bas reliefs and handmade relics in old Persia from 9th century BC and back further to proof from Female Figurines Tureng Tepe, Iran, from the IIIB Period, ca. 3500-2900 B.C (seen below, from Penn Museum).
Europe’s oldest mummy from 5,000 years ago had pierced ears with gauges. Australia has used bone dating technology to date nose piercing to 44,000 BC in aboriginals. Textual mentions from the bible mention earrings in Exodus when Aaron references the gold earrings of the wives--where Babylon is synonymous with old Persia. Piercing is a practice as old as time and varied with piercing sites and meanings.
Historical records show that Persian men played a front-and-center role in the evolution of the popularity of the earring. Based on wall carvings from the Achaemenid Empire, which lasted from roughly 550 – 330 BCE, we can see that men of the time were wearing earrings in the capital city of Persepolis. The carvings depict soldiers with pierced ear lobes which are seen as a fashion tradition of the time. (Image source)
What was the meaning of the piercings?
Body piercing, as well as tattooing, have been a way for people to express themselves and their beliefs throughout history. In the Achaemenid Empire, piercings were often seen as a way to relate to the gods, to enhance beauty and physical appeal, and to manifest strength. Persian stone carvings even show their gods and kings wearing piercings as an image of status, power, and prestige. In addition, soldiers in the army are depicted as wearing earrings that were part of their battle uniform. In that period of history, it was actually more popular for men to wear earrings than women.
The discovery of an ancient Persian earring
A gold Persian earring was discovered from the Achaemenid Period and was made of materials that the Persians acquired from their conquered lands. In this piece of jewelry, the gold would have been sourced from Egypt, the lapis lazuli and carnelian would have come from Persia, where modern-day Afghanistan is located, and the turquoise would be from Chorasmia.
These materials were accessible as a result of Darius the Great—the Persian ruler from 522-486 BCE—who expanded the trade routes and gained access to more goods. The makers of such earrings were likely to have been Medes or Egyptians, and Darius employed conquered peoples to make jewelry for the Persian empire. Because the materials were sourced from conquered lands, it is most likely that the earring would have been made for the empire’s royal individuals as a gift. Plus, archaeologists have found similar items in the tombs of Persian leaders from the time.
Depicted on the jewelry is imagery about the god Ahura Mazda and represents the Persian Empire religion, Zoroastrianism. Typically, jewelry was used in the Empire at the time to spread myths and ideas about their religion, and the god depicted on this earring is one who the Persians believed created the earth, sky, man, and happiness.
Ancient Persians who wore earrings
• Cyrus the Great was the founder of the Achaemenid Empire and is known as a benevolent leader, giving a lot of agency and independence to his subjects. He is depicted in art from the time as wearing earrings, and even within his tomb, there are gold earrings on a table next to his body showing the value and importance they played in his life and culture.
• Darius the Great was the Persian ruler who served the empire when it had its largest territorial control. Wall carvings show him wearing earrings as a sign of power and prestige in their culture. (image source)
• Xerxes the Great, son of Darius the Great, is known for his invasion of Greece and ultimate decline as a leader which marked the beginning of the decline of the Achaemenian Empire as a whole. In the movie 300, his character is depicted through extravagant facial piercings and jewelry which are an exaggeration of the true earrings he wore at the time.
