Nose rings have navigated their way into Western culture expeditiously. However, this fashionable piercing has a rich spiritual history and symbolic presence from the Middle East. This is so new age ritual either; nose rings have been a tradition for over 4,000 years. In fact, nose rings are the oldest and most universally pierced part of the body.
What’s more, there are a variety of ways to pierce the nose. From nostril piercing to septums, studs to hoops and everything in between, nose rings are popular trend that’s only becoming more widely accepted with each generation. The metals used for years with silver being a popular choice. Let’s take a trip through history, east to west, to discover the many meaning of nose rings. Where did nose rings originate? How did nose rings get introduced into western society? Are they a symbolic ritual or simply a fashionable accessory? The short answer is both. In this article, we’ll be looking at a brief history of Nose rings.
The Roots Of Nose Rings
There are several types of nose rings, each with its own unique history and origins. The main two categories of these nasal rings are nostrils piercings and septum piercings.
The Origin Of Nose Rings
The Middle East is the birthplace of the nostril ring. With the first record of nostril piercings tracing back 4,000 years. In the book of Genesis, Abraham’s servant gifts young Rebekah an array of jewelry as a marriage offering on behalf of her future husband, Isaac. Among the gifts and trinkets was a golden earring called a ‘shanf’ also known as a nose ring.
Later, the mogul Empire from Central Asia made nostril piercings a popular and common practice in India in the 16th century. Perhaps our most family cultural image of nostril piercings in the Indian nose piercing featuring beautifully ornate chains falling decoratively across and attaching to her ear.
Septum Piercing Origin
The septum is the space of cartilage between the nostrils of the nose. For centuries, tribal cultures have pierced it as a meaningful ritual. Septum piercings were common tradition among Native American, Australian, Mayan, Aztec, Inca, India, Nepalese, Bengali and Tibetan aboriginal tribes. Tribal people and warriors used a spectrum of septum jewelry including bone, wood, tusks, gold and jade. Each tribe’s interpretation of this powerful piercing differs, along with the materials used for septum jewelry. Septum piercings represent beauty, milestones, manhood, warrior strength, wealth, fertility, brain cognition and more.
