The History of Tattoos
The exquisite body art of tattooing has been around since the earliest days of man. There is evidence suggesting that body marking goes as far back as 12,000 BC to the Neolithic Age. Some of the best evidence of early tattoo art has been found with the discovery of “Otzi the Iceman.” This well preserved mummy was found in the ice of the Otztal Alps on the Austrian/Italian border and dates back to 3300 BC. His skin was very well preserved in the thick ice all of these years. He was sporting 57 separate marks made up of lines and dots in various patterns. Scientists continue to speculate on the meaning and significance of these markings.
Tattooing is very simply the placement of pigments or dyes in the dermal layer of the skin. As the body’s immune system tries to deal with this foreign substance, the pigments become trapped in the fibroblasts in the dermal layer just at the border with the epidermis. Over time, these pigments sink into the deeper layers of the dermis causing the ink to fade. This would require the tattoo designs to be updated from time to time. Some cultures would get these dyes into the dermis via cuts in the skin. Some cultures used various pointed objects to inject the pigments into the dermal layer. Modern tattooing techniques use machines to inject the dyes at a very fast rate.
If we look at the tattoo history, it is evident that different cultures throughout time have used this art as part of various rituals. One common ritual is the rite of passage. Primitive people would make their adolescents endure the pain having pigments injected into their skin at a young age to see how tough they were. They figured that if a boy could not handle the pain of getting tattoed, then he would not make a good warrior. And for the girls, the inability to endure the pain meant that they probably would not be able to handle the pain of childbirth.
Tattoo art came in handy for clan markings helping various tribes to differentiate themselves from others. The body art was used by some so that they could easily locate their clans, family members and spouses in the afterlife. In battle, knowing who was who became very important. Some cultures developed rituals to use tattoos as love charms. This was a magical ritual that used magical ingredients. For example, the Burmese love charm is made from deep purple dyes called vermillion, the skin of a trout and a spotted lizard. This concoction was used to create a small triangle with three small dots. It was normally hidden with clothing so that the charm was not visible to all.
Another ritual that was popular in many Asian cultures used tattooing to enhance a person’s health. For instance, the Tibetans would draw mantra wheels on chakra points along with a chanting ritual to help the person achieve spiritual, emotional and physical harmony. Or special dye formulations were used at acupuncture points to cure specific ailments. Having certain Gods inked on the body could stave off evil spirits and sickness.
Throughout history, tattoo art has been thought to bring the person good luck. A good example of this ritual is found in China were they felt that having their astrological symbol drawn on their skin would bring good fortune. So if you were born in the year of the pig, you would get a pig inked on your body for good luck.
These body markings were even used to display a social status and even to label criminals. The reasons people have chosen to mark themselves with permanent body art are very unique to each culture and person. An examination of how different cultures and groups have used this ancient art form over the years will show the rich history of the tattoo.
The History of Japanese Tattoos
Evidence suggests that Japanese tattoo art extends back as far as 10,000 BC for both decorative and spiritual reasons. The first recorded account of Japanese body art was found in some written Chinese history from about 300 AD. It talked about how the men of all ages inked their faces and bodies with ornate designs. The Chinese records discussed these findings in a negative context since they considered tattooing a sign of uncivilized society and they only used it in their culture as punishment at the time.
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The History of Egyptian Tattoos
Evidence of the earliest Egyptian tattoo art dates back to around 4000 BC. During this era, it seems mostly women were decorated with dots and dashes in a geometric design pattern suggesting pleas to the Gods for fertility and protection. These tattoo designs are seen in drawings and figurines from this time period showing the geometric shapes on the lower abdomen, thighs and arms of women. The first sign of a non geometric design is the depiction of the demigod Bes.
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The History of Celtic Tattoos
The Celts and tattoo design:
The Celts lived as nomadic tribes throughout Western Europe from about 1200 BC to 700 BC. Around 400 BC they settled in and around the British Isles and their culture is preserved in the lands of Ireland, Wales and Scotland. This culture includes a rich history of tattoo art. Movies like “Braveheart” show the permanent body paintings that were done with woad. This was used to create the characteristic blue spirals on the skin. One of the more iconic Celtic tattoo designs is knotwork.
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The History of Borneo (a.k.a. Tribal) Tattoos
This region still practices the traditional tattooing techniques that they have been using throughout their history. Headhunting was a big part of this history, and tattoo art is interwoven with this culture. The many different tribes of Borneo integrated tattoos into their rituals and social structure. Archeology shows that the tribes and peoples of Borneo date back as far as 50,000 years. It is not known how far back tattooing stretches into this history, but it is theorized that these ancestors are the ones spread the tattoo art throughout Polynesia and surrounding areas.
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The History of Mayan Tattoos
The Mayans believed that adorning their bodies with the images of their Gods, their hieroglyphic symbols and their surrounding natural environment would bring them prosperity. It was not uncommon for them to mark their enemies with facial tattoos. Some of the popular characterizations included the jaguar - a symbol of strength and domination; the bat – a symbol of power; and the earth – a symbol of patience.
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The History of Aztecs Tattoos
The Aztecs lived in and around the area called Mexico between the 13th and 16th centuries. They worshiped many different gods that were a big part of their daily lives. Tattoo art was one way the Aztecs honored their gods. Rituals were usually performed when doing tattoos to honor a specific god. They were also used to help the Aztecs differentiate between tribes.
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The History of Greek and Roman Tattoos
Greek and Roman tattoo art in ancient Greece and the Roman Empire:
In the early days of Greek and Roman cultures, marking one’s body with dyes was considered barbaric. They usually only used the practice to mark slaves and criminals to make it more difficult for them to escape. The same practice was used to identify the hired military so that deserters could be easily identified. Sometimes tattooing was used as a punishment in both societies.
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The History of Polynesian Tattoo Art
Tattoo design in Polynesia:
The history of tattoo art in Polynesia dates back over 2000 years. Polynesian culture elevated the tattoo art to the highest levels in the ancient world. They believed that a person’s life force is displayed through the tattoo on their body. The whole art form is woven into their songs, legends and rituals. The Polynesians generally used elaborate geometrical designs in their tattoos.
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The History of Tattoos in the Philippines
Tattoo art in the Philippines goes back to its headhunter heritage. It was very common for the size and number of tattoos a person had was directly related to the number of heads he had taken in the headhunt. Different tribes in the Philippines had different designs and tattoo meanings. One tribe had elaborate line patterns that started at both nipples and arched up around the shoulders and down the upper arms signifying that man had taken a head.
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The History of Maori Tattoos
Tattoo history in New Zealand:
The Maori brought tattoo art from their origins in Eastern Polynesia to New Zealand. They called the art ‘moko,’ and it was in reference to mainly the intricate facial tattoos. Since the Maori do not have a written record, the true origins of Maori tattoos are not really known. They do have a tribal legend passed down from generation to generation saying that the Maori body art came from the underworld.
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The History of Samoan Tattoos
When Europeans first came to the Samoan Islands, their first description of the natives included the tight woven silk pants they thought they were wearing. Little did they know, the natives were covered in tattoos. It took them a few days to realize their legs were covered in ink. The word “tattoo” is derived from the Samoan word “tatou”, which refers to the tapping of the traditional tool used to mark the skin.
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The History of Native American Tattoos
The rich culture and history of all the Native American tribes has included tattoo art over the centuries. The reasons and rituals are as varied as tribes that inhabited North America. tattoos were used to distinguish tribes, to mark the killing of an enemy and to mark a woman telling where she is from. Some American tribes believed that the markings on their bodies gave them supernatural powers and strength.
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Amercian Tattoo History
In America and other western countries, seeing someone with some ink on their arm, shoulder or just about any other body part is very commonplace. Tattoos were now being used to express one’s individuality. People today do research and draw from styles around the world and throughout tattoo history. Celtic tattoos and other primitive tattoos seem to be very popular.
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The History of Sailor Tattoos
Sailors from the west first encountered tattoos when they began to discover the Polynesian Islands. In 1595, the Spanish explorer Mendana first came across the Marquesas Islands and saw this strange body art. But it was almost two centuries in the 1700s when European sailors began to write about and describe tattoos.
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The History of Prison Tattoos
As mentioned earlier, many cultures during various periods of tattoo history would mark their criminals with ink. This history has created a unique tattoo art culture in various prison systems. One of the more common genres of ink in prisons is gang tattoos. Depending on the gang, the artwork could be used to show the person’s devotion to the gang. They could be used to identify which gang you are a member of. Or the ink could be used to display your accomplishments or rank in the gang. Many marks have secret codes and hidden meanings.
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The History of Tattoos and the Circus
The popularity of the circus during the 19th and early 20th century helped to spread the popularity of tattoos or permanent body art. It was not uncommon for a person with a full body tattoo to be part of the side show of a circus. Both men and women were used for these acts. It was not uncommon for rival circuses to compete with each other to have the most elaborate displays of body ink performers.
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The History of Henna Tattoos
Using henna to create temporary designs on the body dates back to the Bronze Age. It has been used to dye skin, hair, fingernails and textiles. The dye comes from the henna plant which is indigenous to the tropical and subtropical areas of Africa, southern Asia and northern Australia.
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The History of Modern Tattoos
Most governments have various regulations surrounding the industry to help protect the public from injury and disease. Today, there are generally two types of tattoo art business models. The first is the traditional tattoo parlor with its “bad boy” image and culture. Then there is the tattoo studio that tends to cater to a more upscale crowd by appointment only. It is more like a spa treatment than a inking session. Tattooing is the sixth fastest growing retail business in the United States.
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The History of Electronic Tattoo Machines
Tattoo art was changed forever when Samuel O’Reilly came up with the idea for the electric tattoo machine. The first one was made during the last part of the 19th century. This made it possible to create tattoo body art in minutes versus hours. Most of the modern tattooing machines can control the needle depth, speed and force of the needle. This has allowed the tattoo artists to become very precise with their tattoo designs.
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