Earrings Through The Ages

It is thought that earrings date back to 3000 BCacross the whole of Europe. One of the most
where they originated in Asia and appeared in 2popular designs of those times were the very
formats, one being the simple hoop earring andlarge heavy pendant type earrings called
the other the more elaborate pendant earring.girandoles which were great favourites of Queen
The oldest earrings ever found by archaeologistsVictoria. These earrings required a substantial
were discovered in royal graves in Iraq and dateamount of precious metals and gemstones and so
back to around 2500 BC. Gold, silver and bronzewere very heavy, which meant that most people
hoop earrings have also been found dating backthat wore them suffered from elongated
to 2000 BC in Crete. In those days it wasearlobes.
customary to bury jewellery with the dead.Although earrings were popular with wealthy
In 16th century in the New Kingdom of ancientpeople throughout the ages, they were also
Egypt a type of earring called an earplug becamepopular with poorer people who adopted their
fashionable and these fitted snugly into a wideown styles which were less elaborate and made
stretched hole in the earlobe. This type of piercingfrom less expensive materials.
is seen on the sculpture of Tutankhamen.It wasn't until the 20th century that earrings were
Poverty in the Dark ages meant that work withcompletely revolutionised. Different fittings
precious metals dwindled although someappeared such as screw and clip on as well as
goldsmiths preserved designs that were to laterthose for pierced ears and it also became the
emerge in 7th century Greece. The most popularnorm for women to wear earrings in the day and
earrings then there were the pendant type andnot just for special occasions. The 1960's marked
they often featured a bird or likenesses of thea massive change for the wearing of earrings
gods Eros and Nike.when designs became completely unrestrained
In the 2nd century during the Roman Empire,and it became common to see men also wearing
earrings became a popular way for rich womenearrings although most only usually wear one
to show off their wealth and the use of preciousearring. Women began to collect earrings and with
gemstones in the jewellery also became moreso many designs available the choices were
popular.endless.
During the Middle Ages, earrings became lessToday the choice is even greater and the
popular and practical due to the popularity ofpopularity of earrings increases with many people
elaborate hairstyles and headdresses.  In fact fornow having more than one set of piercings in
a time it was considered immoral for respectablewhich to display their jewellery. Modern materials
married woman not to have their heads coveredsuch as titanium and different types of plastics
in public.have also become popular in the making of
In 16th century Italy, hairstyles changed with hairearrings because of their lightness, design
being swept away from the face leaving earspossibilities and in the case of titanium because of
exposed although for another 100 years thingsits hypoallergenic qualities.
stayed the same in England, Spain and FranceThere is now a never ending choice of different
with the wearing of high collars keeping earringstypes of earrings from modern trendy cheap and
out of fashion.cheerful everyday earrings to the more
By the 17th century, earrings became veryexpensive gold, silver or platinum earrings inlaid
fashionable accessory for the well dressed ladywith diamonds and other precious gemstones.