Histroy of Tattoos

The word tattoo comes from the Tahitian word 'tatu' which means 'to mark something'.

Tattooing is said to have existed since the year 12,000 BC but there is no physical evidence. They have an important role in tradition. In Borne, women tattooed their symbols on their forearm. These symbols indicated their particular skills. If a symbol indicated she was a skilled weaver her status instantly grew more popular and she was seen as very marriageable. Tattoos on the hands indicated illness, once people saw these tattoos they stayed away from that particular person.

In recorded history the oldest tattoos can be found in Egypt. Many female mummies have been found with ink on their skin. When the Egyptians expanded their empire civilisations like Greece and Persia picked up the art of tattooing. Eventually it even spread to China by 2000 BC. Below is tattoos found on the arm of an Ancient Egyptian mummie.

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Greeks use tattooing on spies. The tattoos identified them and showed their rank. Romans put tattoos on salves and criminals, which is still done in some places today. In western Asia tattooing was used to mark social status, many married women were marked so there place in society was known clearly. Kayan women hand designs on their hands that replicated lace. Polynesians started the tradition of tribal tattoos so people knew what tribal community they belonged to. This tribal art tradition was brought over to New Zealand where a type of facial tattoing called Moko was developed. Moko is still used today. Below is a picture of Moko.

 

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In Japan tattooing thrived. At first it was once again used to mark criminals. Fits offenses were marked with a line across the forehead. A second crime would be marked by adding an arch and a third was marked with another line. It is said that this was the original 'three strikes your out'. The Japanese then escalated tattooing to full body tattoos. Only royalty could wear ornate clothing so middle class men got full body intricate tattoos so that in the privacy of their own home when they were only dressed in cloth they were seen as being dressed well. 

 

Tattooing was brought to the west from explorers who sailed around the world and brought back Polynesian people London after their trips. These people were heavily tattooed and soon upperclassmen were getting small discrete tattoos.