Why Modernity Happened In The West | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 42193929 Estonia 03/31/2014 09:49 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | its all start from Swimsuit That Rocked the World: A History of the Bikini A History of the Bikini It seems somewhat amazing that the bikini, that sexily scant swimsuit that has become such a cultural icon in the U.S. and elsewhere, could have been in existence for only a mere 60 years. Surely the outfit that has so completely taken over America’s beaches and swimming pools and become such an entrenched part of its culture has a longer history than just six decades. Interestingly enough, depending upon how one defines the term “bikini,” it actually has a history that reaches back thousands of years. While the name “bikini” has been in existence only since 1946, the popular two-piece swimsuit that embodies that name has actually existed since about 1600 B.C. What follows is the fascinating history of the bikini, from its ancient origins to its modern, unabashed style. The Ancient Bikini The bikini’s history begins far back in early civilization. Based on evidence from Roman mosaics and murals, historians have long believed that the bikini was popular swimming attire for ancient Roman women. In a time when cultural and moral norms were much more lax than they are today, the bikini was right at home. However, some historians believe that the bikini was actually in existence long before ancient Rome. In recent decades, cave excavators have discovered Minoan wall paintings from approximately 1600 B.C. that show a two-piece outfit strikingly similar to the modern-day bikini (Lencek & Bosker 1989). In the paintings, women involved in a type of gymnastic exercise are wearing costumes that could easily be mistaken for twentieth century bikinis. This rendition of the bikini from more than 3,600 years ago attests to its tremendous staying power in popular fashion. [link to www.godtube.com] wink wink :) |
Anonymous Coward (OP) User ID: 32069520 United States 03/31/2014 09:53 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | its all start from Swimsuit That Rocked the World: A History of the Bikini Quoting: Anonymous Coward 42193929 A History of the Bikini It seems somewhat amazing that the bikini, that sexily scant swimsuit that has become such a cultural icon in the U.S. and elsewhere, could have been in existence for only a mere 60 years. Surely the outfit that has so completely taken over America’s beaches and swimming pools and become such an entrenched part of its culture has a longer history than just six decades. Interestingly enough, depending upon how one defines the term “bikini,” it actually has a history that reaches back thousands of years. While the name “bikini” has been in existence only since 1946, the popular two-piece swimsuit that embodies that name has actually existed since about 1600 B.C. What follows is the fascinating history of the bikini, from its ancient origins to its modern, unabashed style. The Ancient Bikini The bikini’s history begins far back in early civilization. Based on evidence from Roman mosaics and murals, historians have long believed that the bikini was popular swimming attire for ancient Roman women. In a time when cultural and moral norms were much more lax than they are today, the bikini was right at home. However, some historians believe that the bikini was actually in existence long before ancient Rome. In recent decades, cave excavators have discovered Minoan wall paintings from approximately 1600 B.C. that show a two-piece outfit strikingly similar to the modern-day bikini (Lencek & Bosker 1989). In the paintings, women involved in a type of gymnastic exercise are wearing costumes that could easily be mistaken for twentieth century bikinis. This rendition of the bikini from more than 3,600 years ago attests to its tremendous staying power in popular fashion. [link to www.godtube.com] wink wink :) :body33: |