The History of Tattoos

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Tattoos have a huge cultural history that dates back over 5,000 years. he earliest record of tattoos was found on the frozen remains of a fellow whom scientist named Otzi. Otzi lived during the Copper Age. Otzi has tattos on the lower part of his back, his ankles and knees and feet had many tattoos. These were small line markings that were made by rubbing powdered charcoal into vertical cuts.

Researchers think that people like Ötzi were the ancestors of contemporary central and northern Europeans. It seems that many of these people used tattoos as relief from pain.

Historical records from 2000 BC in Egypt show tattooed female dancers. Many mummies have been found to have the same abstract dot-and-dash tattoos on their bodies. Later, Egyptian tattoo images were Bes, god of fertility and revelry.

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Ancient Romans used tattoos to brand criminals. Tattoos for other purposes were banned. But over time, Roman attitudes changed because their enemy, the opposing Brittish armies, wore tattoos like badges of honor. The Romans admired their ferocity in battle and how their tattoos were symbols of their fighting abilities - and after that many Roman soldiers began to have tattoos. Roman doctors perfected the art of tattoo application and removal.

Crusaders warriors (11th- 12th century) tattooed themselves with the mark of the cross in order to be given a Christian burial. Tattooing largely disappeared in the West after the Crusades.

The Japanese practiced exquisite tattooing since the 5th century B.C. The lower class was restricted from wearing the ornate kimonos of the upper class and therefore rebelled by wearing tattooed body suits. They often covered thier entire body from their neck to their knees with intricate designs that hid beneath their clothing. This practice was viewed as subversive, and the government outlawed tattoos in 1870, However, tattooists went underground, where the art expanded to represent inner longings and dreams.

Later, the yakuza (Japanese gangsters) used the tattooed body suits—especially because they were illegal. These tattoos represented their strength and showed their alliance to their group and their standards of belonging.

European sailors of the 18th century discovered the South and Central Pacific islands where tattos were an important part of the culture. They found Tahitian girls who upon reaching sexual maturity, had her buttocks black with tattoos - a tradition that continues for many to this day. The sailors discovered that Hawaiians who were in mourning tattooed their tongues with three dots. They found those natives In Borneo had tattooed an eye on the palm of their hands - believing it to be a spiritual guide to the next life.

Capt. James Cook landed in Tahiti in 1769. It was here that the word "tattoo" originated (from tatau), which meant to mark the body. Many islanders used razor sharp shells to work their designs into the skin.

Maoris of New Zealand signed their signature on documents by by drawing precise replicas of their moko (their facial tattoo). European merchants of 1820 would trade guns for tattooed heads of Maori warriors. To appease them, them Maori traders would capture others and tattoo and kill them to trade their heads for guns! In 1831, the government of Brittian made the selling of human heads illegal.