Ancient Tattoos

I have always found tattoos to be fascinating. I think it would be neat to have one; a nice design/picture/word, something with meaning. However, I am a wimp and will probably never get one. In the meantime, I will continue to find the tattoos that other people have interesting.

I came across an article today from the Smithsonian about tattoos that was originally published in 2007. It seems that Egyptians were the first civilization to tattoo themselves in large numbers. It was mostly females that engaged in tattoos, as shown by several female mummies from about 2000 BCE. This date may be inaccurate due to the discovery of Iceman, who is 5200 years old and has tattoo markings.

Tattoos in ancient times did not have the same meaning as they do today; in fact, it is believed in both cases of the Egyptians and Iceman that the tattoos were used for medical purposes, to alleviate pain. The Egyptians also used them a protection against difficult pregnancies as a good luck charm of sorts. Lines and dot matrices were typical design patterns. Interestingly, a mummy of a Scythian (ancient Iranian) was found with mythical animals tattoos across his body and a woman was also discovered with mythical animals tattooed on her body.

The tools used for ancient tattoos are very different from modern tools. Instruments with sharp metal points and wooden handles were excavated by archaeologist W.M.F. Petrie and are thought to have been used for tattoos. Color was not commonly used in ancient tattoos; dark inks were most common. However, Inuit tribes used yellow pigments for their designs. Today, the tattooing process is automated with tattoo machines. HowStuffWorks.com has a nice graphic that shows exactly how a tattoo is created with modern technology.

Joann Fletcher, a research fellow at University of York in Britain, wraps up the interview with Smithsonian and explains how and why tattooing came about in several different cultures: “In many cases, it seems to have sprung up independently as a permanent way to place protective or therapeutic symbols upon the body, then as a means of marking people out into appropriate social, political or religious groups, or simply as a form of self-expression or fashion statement.”

I have included a link to the Smithsonian’s collection of mummies and with tattoo markings as well as ancient tools used. The two pictures are actual mummies, so be warned!

Also, here are tattoos by famous tattoo artist, Kat von D.