Why Did Pirates Wear Earrings?
By celticeagle
@celticeagle (174754)
Boise, Idaho
May 22, 2025 6:49pm CST
I always wondered why privates were always depicted with earrings in their ears. I thought it was them showing off the precious metals and gems they had gotten in their last country. But, come to find out that wasn't it at all. It is actually rooted in superstition. It was thought that precious metals held magical healing powers. Many times I would see only one too so is that just going to help their sight in one eye or what?
3 people like this
2 responses
@Ineeddentures (1464)
•
16h
I had no idea about this at all and now I do so I have indeed learned something new today.
And the peg leg!! Long John Sliver. Legs cut off for superstition too no doubt.
Did they have glass eyes?
2 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (49675)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
15h
"His left leg was cut off close by the hip, and under the left shoulder, he carried a crutch, which he managed with wonderful dexterity, hopping about upon it like a bird. He was very tall and strong, with a face as big as a ham—plain and pale, but intelligent and smiling." -- page 82
They might have had glass eyes, or wooden ones. The eye patch was more for keeping one eye able to see in the dark: they'd slip it over the other eye. They didn't have sunglasses, y'know.
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