History of Period Products - Ancient Times - By Scott Reinke - 'History fanatic, Daughter Dad and POM Chairman'
Period underwear is a relatively new product and many are still learning about the differences of “traditional” products and their environmental impacts. As part of this, you may find it interesting to read about what products have gone before and how periods were dealt with across the centuries.
Today we’ll look at the ancient world, and in the next article, we’ll look at the ‘modern” world.
If we look at the Paleoindian Period (Ancient North Americans) between 12,000-8,000 BC these were people who often viewed menstruation as a time when girls and women were spiritually powerful. They also believed it to be a time when young women could have visions. Historically, women built a small wooden house for a girl to live in seclusion during her menstruation each month. It would serve as a place for personal reflection and a space for learning from elders. As far as products used, they often used moss and buffalo hide as a type of pad.
The ancient Egyptians (3,100-30BC) would often use softened papyrus as a makeshift tampon. Aancient Egyptian medical records that mention menstrual products. These medical texts suggest menstrual blood could be used in ointments for health treatments.
The Ancient Romans (625-476 AD) used techniques such as ligatures to lessen menstrual bleeding and the belief that menstrual blood had ‘magical powers’. It was believed that menstruation was ridding the female body of excess fluids. Women were not allowed to enter temples during menstruation as it was believed that menstruating women could cause natural catastrophes, “sour crops, wither fruits and vegetables, kill bees, drive dogs insane, dull the brightness of mirrors, blunt razors, turn linens black, and rust iron and bronze.” It was even said that a menstruating woman could kill a plant just by looking at it. The reason this blood was not dangerous to women while inside them, was because menstrual blood flowed outwards, not inwards, therefore it was only harmful to the “outside body.” Regarding “products used” The Ancient Romans would line their undergarments with absorbent cotton pads.
From the medieval era to about the middle ages (500-1,500AD) periods were also generally regarded as evil, and linked to disease, madness, and even crop failure. This made menstruation an extreme taboo. Women of the time would use scrap fabric, linen, or would simply bleed into their clothes. In the medieval era, women wore layers of skirt and underclothing which would often hide blood in public.
There are many takeaways from this historical knowledge, unfortunately, the strongest point is that the periods have been seen as an evil threat and therefore, have been strongly stigmatised. Periods were just another way for the patriarchy to exclude and shame women. Another great takeaway is the fact that “period products” really haven’t changed that much in the scheme of things. Lining undergarments with bulky fabrics and or putting something absorbent up the vaginal canal seemed to be the way to go even back in 12,000 BC. Both points help us realise why periods have been a taboo subject making us wonder how period product technology progressed into the modern era and if society's views changed. You’ll find out how things changed in the next blog…