Henna Tattoos In Ancient Egyptian Culture

There are so many ways for people to communicate their own individuality within their community, as well as, who they are as a member of their community. Communication is more than just words, but, symbols and signs, too. Even back with the Egyptians, who used seven- to eight- hundred different symbols, called hieroglyphics, communication and storytelling was primarily through symbols. Over the years, people have symbolized who they are through body art, specifically in the form of tattoos. Tattoos, today, are seen as a way to show who we are. They tell the stories of a person, and the customs, beliefs, and the life of their culture. Tattoos are a major form of nonverbal communication in the American culture and what they want to demonstrate. …show more content…
Henna is a plant-derived pigment added to sugar and water, that is used to temporarily (1-6 weeks) decorate the body with significant symbols for special occasions. It is still used today and decorates many bodies. Henna was used for special occasions such as weddings, birthdays, and religious events in India, Pakistan, Africa, and the Middle East. While it is not known how it originally came to be, ancient Egyptians used this form of body art occasionally, as well, during this time period. The most common form of the henna tattoos are the flower, which symbolizes joy and happiness. These flowers are thought to not only give the person who is wearing the art joy and happiness, but bring joy and happiness to those around them. Henna Buds symbolize a start of a new life, although they can also be interpreted as to bring fertility and joy. As a form of nonverbal communication, they are used to show positive messages and symbolize joy and …show more content…
These tattoos were a whole different language in itself. Each member of the tribe had the same tattoo in the same location that was specific to their individual tribe, it was almost like a stamp you get when you go into a club, so you can get back in later if you happen to leave. Usually the stamp would be at the back of your hand with the club logo on it. It takes a couple days to fully wear off, and when you pick up your coffee mug people usually notice it. They then tie that symbol/logo to the specific club and know that you had been there recently, without you even uttering a word. It is the same concept, except tattoos last a lot longer, a lifetime. These tattoos not only communicated what tribe these Native Americans were a part of, it also told what rank that individuals held within the tribe. This was also true for soldiers, who returned home and, if they had won, would get a tattoo that signified their victory. The Native Americans were very spiritual people, who would get tattoos of the animals they wanted strength from, in hope to be stronger during battles. Many times you would see men walking down the dirt path with a tattoo of an oxe on his arm and you would fear him, for in this culture, it meant that he could draw strength from that animal. In the Native American culture, tattoos were a way to communicate who they were. These tattoos communicated the tribe they were from,