
The Evolution of Earrings
Earrings are undoubtedly ancient. Archeological evidence shows men and women of Mesopotamia wearing earrings thousands of years before the Common Era. When King Tutankhamun was buried in his finest in 1232 BCE, his ensemble included earrings, which were popular in Ancient Egypt. Greek and Etruscans brought refinement to the ear hoop with advances in goldsmithing in the first century BCE. Later, Roman jewelry-making expanded beyond hoops to include disks and hanging earrings with pearls and gems to suit the finer tastes of the growing elite.
More than any other type of jewelry, history shows earrings responding to the fashion environment. Trends of hair and dress have dramatically impacted contemporary earring style. When hats, high collars, or big hair was the fashion, earring style tended to favor diminutive earrings or bare ears. Conversely, when trend favored sleek hair or up-dos, bare necks, and generous necklines, the ear became a ready canvas for prominent earrings. Over time, European ear-decor became more common for women than men.
