History of Tattoos
History of tattoos
Did you know that the first sign of tattoos were discovered on the “Iceman” dating back over five thousand centuries? These tattoos were simple lines and dots, but the significance is unknown. The word tattoo is said to have two major derivations- from the Polynesian word ‘ta’ which means striking something and the Tahitian word ‘tatau’ which means ‘to mark something’. After reading this, one will know the background and history of tattoos, the evolution of the equipment used to give tattoos, and the medical risks involved with getting a tattoo. People that do not have or agree with tattoos are sometimes labeled as freaks or rebels. People get tattoos to express their personalities or religious beliefs. Religious tattoos and other symbols are nothing new, tattoos were actually discovered on mummies which dated as far back as 3000 B.C. Sailors, prisoners, Indians, and even the blue collar working man or woman all have something in common: Tattoos. Tattoos are permanent designs applied by ingraining different color pigment into the skin. Tattoos have multiple meanings for different cultures. In almost every early culture, tattoos symbolized status. Tribal eras of history, tattoos played roles as rituals and traditions. Tattoos symbolize individuality, religion, art, and social status. The first tattoos known to history were discovered in October 1991 by a scientist who had located a mummy that had been frozen in the Alps for approximately 5000 years. This mummified body was identified to have been from 3300 B.C. This mummy was tattooed with a total of 58 tattoos on his body. (Krcmarik, 2003) These tattoos were only lines and dots, but showed just how old this art was. In recorded history, the earliest tattoos evolved in Egypt during the erection of the great pyramids. As the Egyptians expanded their empire, the tattoo art expanded with the increase within the empire, The Greeks used tattooing for communication
Did you know that the first sign of tattoos were discovered on the “Iceman” dating back over five thousand centuries? These tattoos were simple lines and dots, but the significance is unknown. The word tattoo is said to have two major derivations- from the Polynesian word ‘ta’ which means striking something and the Tahitian word ‘tatau’ which means ‘to mark something’. After reading this, one will know the background and history of tattoos, the evolution of the equipment used to give tattoos, and the medical risks involved with getting a tattoo. People that do not have or agree with tattoos are sometimes labeled as freaks or rebels. People get tattoos to express their personalities or religious beliefs. Religious tattoos and other symbols are nothing new, tattoos were actually discovered on mummies which dated as far back as 3000 B.C. Sailors, prisoners, Indians, and even the blue collar working man or woman all have something in common: Tattoos. Tattoos are permanent designs applied by ingraining different color pigment into the skin. Tattoos have multiple meanings for different cultures. In almost every early culture, tattoos symbolized status. Tribal eras of history, tattoos played roles as rituals and traditions. Tattoos symbolize individuality, religion, art, and social status. The first tattoos known to history were discovered in October 1991 by a scientist who had located a mummy that had been frozen in the Alps for approximately 5000 years. This mummified body was identified to have been from 3300 B.C. This mummy was tattooed with a total of 58 tattoos on his body. (Krcmarik, 2003) These tattoos were only lines and dots, but showed just how old this art was. In recorded history, the earliest tattoos evolved in Egypt during the erection of the great pyramids. As the Egyptians expanded their empire, the tattoo art expanded with the increase within the empire, The Greeks used tattooing for communication
References: Brief History of Tattoos. (November 2004). Retrieved from http://powerverbs.com/tattooyou/history.htm Tattoos: Understand Risks and Precautions. (February 2010). Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/tattoos-and-piercings/MC00020/METHOD=print Tattoos, What You Need to Know. (2005-2011). Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/skinbeauty/guide/tattoos-what-you-need-know Eldridge, C. (1998). Tattoo Archive. Retrieved from http://www.tattooarchive.com/history/tattoomachine.com Gotch, C., & Gilbert, S. (1995). Tattoos. Retrieved from http://tattoos.com/bronze.htm Krcmarik, K. (2003). History of Tattooing. Retrieved from https://www.mus.edu/~krcmar1/individual/history.html