The History & Culture of Tattoos & Piercings
No one knows the exact origin of tattoos but it is believed they have been around for at least 12,000 years. Tattoos have a history on all continents and have served varied purposes. Piercings have a history that is almost as long, with some accounts at least 5,000 years old.
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Tattooing in the Prehistorical Era
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The strongest evidence of prehistoric tattoos are on a mummy found in the Tyrolean Alps. He is over 5000 years old and had at least 57 tattoos that are thought to have been medicinal. These tattoos were found on acupuncture points.
Mummies were found between Russia and China that are around 2400 years old. Their tattoos were of animals and monsters and are believed be decorative and to have magical purposes.
Tattooing in Ancient Egypt
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Tattooing was used in Egypt from 2000 to 3000 BCE. The mummies found from this era were women who displayed tattoos across their stomachs. These are believed to have been for fertility and to honor female deities. From Egypt, tattooing spread around the world.
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Tattooing in Japan, Polynesia and the rest of Asia
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Figurines from Japan show marks or engravings that symbolize tattoos. These figurines are at least 3000 years old. The Japanese used tattoos mostly as decoration but occasionally for religious symbolism. Later, they were used to distinguish criminals and the lower class.
Tattoos spread across southern China along the silk route. Polynesian people used tattoos extensively and believed that a person's soul is displayed in the tattoo. The Maori (New Zealand) created full-faced "moko" which showed their status, lines of descent and tribal associations.
In Borneo, tattooing has been practiced for thousands of years and traditional tribal tattoos are still practiced today. In India and Thailand, tattoos were put on the body by monks who incorporated magical powers. Women were excluded.
Tattooing in Europe
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Ancient Greeks learned tattooing from the Persians and passed it on to the Romans, who used tattoos as punishment. Celts used permanent body paint to symbolize life's journeys. It is believed the vikings were tattooed but there is little scientific evidence to support that theory. In the 1700s, tattooing became a tradition in the British Navy.
Tattooing in the Americas
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The aboriginals of South and Central America used tattoos from at least the 11th century. The Mayans used them as a sign of courage. In North America, aboriginal groups used tattoos to symbolize success as warriors, marital status and group identification. New York City had the first tattoo shop in 1846.
Body piercings
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Piercings are common throughout the world and are seen on mummies at least 5,000 years old.
Ear piercing is perhaps the most common, seen on every continent and worn by both men and women. Lip piercings are also universal. However, the Dogon tribe Of Mali, and the Nuba of Ethiopia were the only ones that used rings. This had religious symbolism of the world's creation.
Tongue piercing was seen in the Americas. Drawing blood in this way was thought to aid in communication with the gods. The nose has been pierced for over 4,000 years. First in the Middle East and then in India. It was mostly seen in women. In the Middle East it symbolized the wealth of the family. In India it helped cut the pain of childbirth. In the 1960s, nose piercing became popular with hippies.
Septum piercing has also been around for thousands of years and was widely used in warrior cultures to give the face a fierce look. Navel piercing is only seen in modern history, starting in the 20th century after the invention of the bikini. The origin of nipple piercing is uncertain but it is known that nipple rings were sold in Persian stores in the 19th century.
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- Photo Credit fist over wrist tattoo of greek key pattern image by nextrecord from Fotolia.com
