![]() It is believed that this practice continued right through into the 9th century. Throughout Ancient Rome there is also evidence of soldiers as well as arms manufacturers getting tattoos. ![]() Evidence shows the use of the verb ‘stizein’, which means to prick when referring to tattooing in their ancient literature. Criminals, prisoners of war, and slaves would be branded with their status.Ī famous example of the use of tattoos by the Ancient Greeks was the Athenians tattooing owls onto the Samians after defeating them. Tattoos during this era in Greece and Rome were used mainly on the outcasts of society. Written records provide evidence of tattooing from the 5th century BCE in Greece. Unfortunately, those who are unable to endure the pain can be branded with the mark of shame on their skin forever. These tattoos are extremely painful to receive and the procedure comes with a great risk of infection. Once complete, the tattoos represent and celebrate dedication to the culture and great endurance. Tattooing ceremonies are generally held to mark a younger chief’s ascension to a leadership role within society. The process of receiving traditional tattoos takes many weeks to complete. The tool used to give the tattoos is handmade, from turtle shell and boar’s teeth. The skill is taught and passed down from father to son. The techniques and tools used for this traditional practice have hardly changed during this time either. The tradition of giving and receiving tattoos by hand in Samoa has been practiced for more than two thousand years. It is even believed that the modern-day English word ‘tattoo’ may have originated from the Samoan word for tattoo ‘tatau’. The history of tattooing in Samoa is a great example of how tattoos can form an integral part of social culture. Tattooing has formed a part of Samoan cultural traditions for thousands of years. This practice changed, however, during the Meroitic period, between 300 BC and 400 CE, when Nubian men received tattoos. This theory is supported by the fact that there is little to no evidence, either physical or artistic, that tattooing was commonly performed on men. Another interesting discovery about tattooing from ancient Egypt is that it appears this practice was only carried out on the skin of women. His examination of the different scars found on the mummified body of the priestess, Hathor, suggests that the markings could have been a treatment for pelvic peritonitis. Research by Daniel Fouquet suggests that, in ancient Egypt, tattoos may have even been performed as a medical treatment. Some theories indicate that the tattoos found on the mummies were for decorative purposes. There have been discoveries of tattooed mummies from ancient Egypt, which suggest that the practice here dates back to at least 2000 BC. This tattoo was used to warn other members of society that this person could not be trusted. It is also thought to have been fairly common for convicted criminals to be branded with a tattoo on their face. Let’s take a closer look at some of these civilizations and some theories about why they used to tattoo themselves.Īncient Chinese literature refers to folk heroes and bandits as having tattoos. These theories reflect the location and the cultures of the civilizations themselves. Ancient and Traditional PracticesĪs the first tattoos date back to ancient civilizations, the reasons behind the newly-seen skin tattoos are fuelled by different theories. All of these discoveries link to different periods of time throughout ancient history. Locations where tattooing practices have been recorded on human remains, include: Alaska, Mongolia, Greenland, Egypt, China, Sudan, Russia, and the Philippines. There is evidence of this from over 49 different locations around the world, where tattooed mummies and remains have been discovered. While Otzi may be evidence of the first tattoos known to mankind, other eras and ages throughout history reveal a long and rich history of tattooing. Close examination of the markings on the mummy indicate that soot or fireplace ash were used to create the tattoos. Otzi’s body has a total of 61 tattoos in various different locations, with the majority of these ink inscriptions located on his legs.
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