The History of Tattoos

Tattooing is not just a recent fad. Tattooing has been around for a very long time. "The current first proven incident of a tattoo dates back 4,000 years B.C. a traveler was found in Italy near Austria, preserved in the permafrost of a glacier. Carbon dating and arte facts found near him suggest that he is over 5,300 years old" (Tattoos and Design). Tattoos have been used

The skin stories we learned about in class in Polynesian culture was very interesting. In their culture tattoos have a deeper meaning then some American tattoos. The origin of where they come from is a lot different, not to say that U.S tattoos are not important. Because there are plenty of passionate talented artists out there, that do a solid job at making special tattoos for people every day. But the story of Polynesian tattoos came to be is very different since it has been around for centuries. Polynesian people are carrying their family’s origins on their skin. They are representing heritage and lineage on their skin.

The story we know goes back to the Stone Age. In 1991, one hunter man was found in a glacier from the Neolithic era; his back and knees tattooed. Before the hunter mummy, the oldest person with tattoo that was discovered was the Egyptian priestess, Amunet worshiper of Hathor, goddess of love and fertility. She lived in Thebes around 2000 BC, and her tattoos, were pretty much the same style as the mummy of the hunter, linear with simple designs of dots and dashes. In the prehistoric cave of Aurignac small pointed bones were found and were believed to be use for tattooing at that time.

Historically tattoos have played an important role in Middle Eastern culture. Tattoos have been especially significant in tribal communities. While traditional techniques have lost popularity in the Islamic countries, skin decorating has remained prominent. The once popular practice of permanent tattooing has shifted, in many places in the Middle East, to the practice of temporary tattooing. There is a diverse range of meaning behind tattooing in theses countries. The tattoos were used for protection, decoration and displaying sexuality. Interestingly, it appears as if there have not been many formal studies about the meanings and origins of tattoos in the Middle Eastern culture. However, I was still able to find

The renaissance of tattoo in modern and post-modern society owes its resurrection to Captain James Cook and the crew aboard the HM Bark Endeavour who brought back accounts of tattooed peoples, examples of tattoos upon their skin, and the Samoan word, tatau to Great Britain after their voyage to Tahiti and New Zealand.

The origins of tattooing dates back to nearly 5,000 years. The first people to ever have tattoos were mummies. Over the years, archaeologists have discovered a variety of mummies with body art of their own. The most famous tattooed ancient man is Ötzi the Iceman, who died high in the Italian Alps more than 5,000 years ago. Ötzi is covered with more than 50 tattoos in the form of lines and crosses made with

Reasons for getting a tattoo vary greatly. In some cultures tattoos were used as a way to mark bravery or a way to mark slaves. Other cultures used tattoos to signify wealth or status. Modern day reasoning for tattoos has changed greatly. Tattoos and Body Piercing lists several reasons people get tattoos, including enhancing beauty, identifying oneself, commemorating others, rebellious acts, and body makeovers. Individuals may use tattoos as an art form to express their personality or beliefs. Also, tattoos often carry a specific message or association. For instance, a person may get a tattoo as a way of remembering a loved one. Tattoos may even be a sign of risky or defiant behavior. Young teenagers, for example, may get a tattoo

Tattoos are not a new fad that grew over night. Tattooing has been a form of art that people have used to communicate with for ages. Whether it is a family crest, a butterfly, or a zodiac sign, all tattoos have meaning in which someone can tell a story. The history of tattoos goes as far back as the first people who roamed this Earth. Tattoos have been around for so long that no historian or archaeologist can precisely trace back to when and where tattooing began.

The art of tattooing has been around for centuries, with origins dating back before the year 325, when it was banned by the Roman Empire and made its return once again around the 18th century via British explorers returning from Polynesia. Tattooing practices vary around the world, specifically in their meaning and significance cross-culturally. For instance, tattooing practices and significance in Western cultures vary significantly than in non-Western cultures. Specifically, in traditional cultures, tattooing often marks a crucial period or a rite of passage in an individual’s life, such as the transition from childhood into adulthood. In Polynesian societies, specifically amongst the Maori people, the art of tattooing plays a vital role

You don't have to be a biker or a convict to be tattooed. People have been marking their bodies since the beginning of time; "Tattooing is the oldest art form around" (Austin 18). There is evidence that our ancient ancestors were marking their bodies 10,000 years ago and "recently a 4,000-year-old, tattooed warrior was discovered in the Austrian alps" (18). Tattooing is not new to human culture. Tattooing has been used to differentiate between tribes of people, mark the passing of childhood into adulthood, and commemorate "courageous deeds" (18). Even our earliest civilization, ancient Egypt, used tattooing. Archaeologists have found tattooed female mummies dating back to 4000 B.C.

In the past, one reasons for having a tattoo is that it is usually connected spirituality. Tattoos are like an amulet to protect people against the unfamiliar. In ancient Egypt, the god Bes protected women in labor. Women of that time would have a tattoo that represented a god or goddess, to protect themselves during the time when they were pregnant. Tattoos are still used today to express religious beliefs.

The history of tattoos dates back to approximately 6000 BC. Evidence of tattoos has been found of mummified preserved skin. Tattooing has been present in Western society consistently from the beginning of Western society in ancient Greece.

Ancient people believed that if they were to get a tattoo of a certain animal, then they would have protection against attacks from that animal. Also, the fiercest warriors of their time would have tattoos that marked the significance of their battles. The same still holds true today, as tattoos are extremely popular among our military. For instance, during WW1 and WW2 sailors would sometimes get tattoos of propellers on their

"The word tattoo comes from the Tahitian word "tatu" which means "to mark something". It is arguably claimed that tattooing has existed since 12,000 years BC. (http://www.tatthoo.com/tattoohistory1.htm) "

Tattoos originated during the Stone Age. According to the article “Gender performance over job performance” by Lucille M Ponte and Jennifer L. Gillian, both state that in many cultures, individuals undergo a “painful process” of tattoo ritual to signify an “individual’s courage and endurance” (Ponte and Gillian 330). In other occasions tattoos are done to identify a person as being