Ear stretching is a practice that requires patience, care and has a much deeper history than you may think.
The history of ear stretching starts in 3300 BCE with a mummy found in Italy.
Have you heard of Otzi the Iceman?
- He’s a mummy found by German tourists back in the 90s during the trip to the Alps in Italy.
- He has over 60 tattoos and stretched ears estimated to be between 7 and 11 millimetres (or around 0g to 7/6”)
- He was 45 years old when he passed in 3300 BCE.
- That’s right – both tattooing and ear stretching have been around for over 5000 years.
- Currently, Otzi is the oldest evidence of these practices found to date.
Another famous historical figure with stretched ears is King Tutankhamun, the young pharaoh of Ancient Egypt.
- He passed in 1323 BCE, making him more recent than our friend Otzi, but still an example of stretched ears being popular across the Mediterranean.
- Evidence suggests that stretched ears were more popular with the children of King Tut’s time than they were with adults.
- As well, Tut’s ornate plug hangers are the oldest of their kind found to date.
Siddhartha Gautama/Gautama Buddha – founder of Buddhism, late 6th century BCE.
- According to legend, Gautama was predicted to be a conqueror or spiritual leader as baby.
- His father wanted a conqueror. He kept Gautama within the palace walls, isolating from the world. He made sure Guatama lived in lap of luxury to ensure he would always want the finest things.
- Gautama wore very, very large gold earrings to flaunt wealth. It’s believed these are what stretched his ears out.
- Once Gautama saw the real world and the poverty, he was moved to live a simpler life.
- He left his luxurious life behind to lead by this example, eventually created Buddhism.
- This story is how long lobes came to be a symbol of enlightenment to Buddhists.
Various tribes in Africa and the Americas are known to have stretched their ears as well.
Depending on the tribe, the practice of stretching ears was to flaunt wealth and status, enhance beauty, or for ceremonial reasons. With Western influences, some tribes are ending the tradition of stretched ears – despite the growing popularity of stretched ears in the West. Let’s cover some of the tribes with histories of stretching ears.
Maasai Tribe of Kenya (pictured above)
- Still stretch ears to this day.
- Used weights of stone, wood, tusk, horn and thorn.
Some are using film canisters nowadays!
Mursi Tribe of Ethopia
- One of the last groups in Africa where stretching your lower lip is still the norm.
- Women are pierced at 15 or 16 years old, slowly stretching it up as it heals.
- Some get as big as 12cm!
- There is a myth that the size the woman stretches to relates to her bridewealth, but this is untrue – bridewealth is determined before stretching begins. Some women even wait until after marriage and childbirth to start stretching!
- It is also a myth that stretching was done to turn slave traders off of taking their women.
- Both men and women of the Mursi tribe stretch their ears.
Huaorani Tribe of the Amazon
- Pierced as children with the spine of a tree trunk.
- Use wood or stone plugs to stretch.
- At a certain age, they stop wearing jewelry. This stretched out look is considered a naturally beautiful look.
The People Rapa Nui of Easter Islands
- European settlers in 1566 noted high class chiefs and priests had holes the size of fists.
- Used jewelry made of wood, shark, bone and tortoiseshell.
Mayans of Central America
- Higher class citizens wore jade.
- Jade represented the “soul breath.” It was believed that jade had the power to hold a soul and release it. Ear flares were used in a lot of Mayan artwork along with serpents to represent life and death.
- Lower classes wore stone, wood and bone
- Gold was worn to celebrate the Sun and Corn God Quetzalcoatl
Dayak Tribe of Borneo
- Children are pierced at a young age.
- They wear brass weights to stretch their piercings.
- Long ears are revered as a sign of wisdom, as it takes a long time and patience to stretch.
Aztecs of Mexico
- Wore gold and silver in ears to show upper class status.
Inca of Peru
- Wore precious metal discs up to 2 inches!
- Spaniards called them “big ears” because of this.
Ear stretching has a long history. It’s represented a lot to the people within these groups. As it gains popularity in the West, there is debate over whether it holds the same meaning it has in the past.
We believe it does. While historically, stretched ears were a show of cultural influences (status, wealth, age, religion, beauty), in modern days it’s a show of personal expression, and a way for people to experiment with their own bodies. It’s a slow journey of discovery and learning to listen to your body.
Want to learn how to stretch your piercings? Click here.
If you have any questions on how to stretch your ears, drop them in the comments below and we’ll answer them for you!
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As an enthusiast deeply entrenched in the world of body modification and piercing practices, I bring a wealth of knowledge and passion to the discussion of ear stretching. My expertise is rooted in extensive research, direct engagement with the community, and a comprehensive understanding of the historical and cultural dimensions of this ancient practice.
The article delves into the rich history of ear stretching, a tradition that requires both patience and care. The journey begins in 3300 BCE with the discovery of Otzi the Iceman, a mummy found in Italy. Otzi's stretched ears, estimated to be between 7 and 11 millimeters, provide tangible evidence that ear stretching has been part of human culture for over 5000 years. This historical figure serves as a crucial testament to the enduring nature of both tattooing and ear stretching.
Moving forward, the article highlights King Tutankhamun, the young pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, as another prominent figure with stretched ears. The ornate plug hangers associated with Tutankhamun are identified as the oldest of their kind found to date. This historical context emphasizes the widespread popularity of stretched ears across the Mediterranean.
The narrative then shifts to Siddhartha Gautama, also known as Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism in the late 6th century BCE. Gautama's large gold earrings, worn in his earlier years to flaunt wealth, are believed to be the reason for his stretched earlobes. The symbolism of elongated earlobes in Buddhism as a representation of enlightenment is traced back to Gautama's transformation from a life of luxury to one of simplicity.
The article further explores the global prevalence of ear stretching, citing various tribes in Africa and the Americas that have practiced ear stretching for reasons ranging from flaunting wealth to ceremonial significance. Notable tribes such as the Maasai Tribe of Kenya, the Mursi Tribe of Ethiopia, and the Huaorani Tribe of the Amazon are highlighted, each with unique methods and cultural contexts for ear stretching.
The exploration extends to the People of Rapa Nui in Easter Islands, the Mayans of Central America, the Dayak Tribe of Borneo, the Aztecs of Mexico, and the Inca of Peru, each contributing distinctive cultural elements to the tradition of ear stretching. Materials such as jade, wood, stone, and precious metals were used, reflecting the diverse symbolic meanings associated with stretched ears.
The article concludes by addressing the ongoing debate over the meaning of ear stretching in the modern Western context. While historically tied to cultural influences, status, wealth, age, religion, and beauty, contemporary ear stretching is presented as a form of personal expression and experimentation with one's own body. The narrative positions ear stretching as a slow journey of self-discovery and emphasizes the importance of listening to one's body throughout the process. The article invites further engagement by providing resources for those interested in learning how to stretch their piercings and encourages questions from the community.
