The history of tattooing is intertwined with various ideologies that come to mind when we hear the word "tattoo". It can be associated with pain, taboos, coolness, words, pictures, symbols, and more. Tattoos are a form of artistic expression that involves using ink or dyes to make permanent or temporary designs on the skin, ranging from names of loved ones to reminders of important moments, stories, reflections, and symbolic representations of rituals, logos, love, peace, and more. These designs can include lines, ovals, words, dots, and other elements that convey meaning depending on the traditions or way of life of the people who have them. The process of creating a tattoo is known as tattooing.
The word "tattoo" originated from the Tahitian word "tatu" or "tatau", which means to mark something. Historical artifacts suggest that tattooing dates back to the Upper Paleolithic era, which is known for its association with art. Clay, red ochre disks, and sharp bone implements were used for skin pigmentation in the tattooing process. Evidence of tattooing tools that are at least 12,000 years old has been discovered in France, Portugal, and Scandinavia.
Remains dating back to 3100 to 3370 BC show the earliest known examples of tattooing. A Bronze Age mummy found in the Alps known as Otzi the Iceman, dating from the fifth to fourth millennium BC, is the oldest surviving evidence of tattoos. Blue tattoos on the lumbar spine and ankles were found on Otzi's body. Tattooing was also practiced in other countries such as Ancient Egypt and Siberia, with evidence of tattoos found on mummies in Egypt. The expansion of the Egyptian empire contributed to the spread of tattooing knowledge and practice.
One of the most notable mummies with tattoos was that of a priestess of the goddess Hathor. Subsequently, two other female mummies with different tattoos were discovered, including diamond patterns on the arms and chest, and dots and parallel lines on the arms, thighs, and navel. Although initially believed that only females were tattooed, evidence of tattoos on male Pharaohs and other high-profile individuals suggests that tattooing was practiced by both genders in ancient Egypt, where tattooing was embraced as early as during the construction of the pyramids.
Tattooing was also practiced in Japan, where a traditional method called irezumi involved tattooing the face, unlike in Egyptian mummies where the tattoos were found on the limbs and arms. Documentation dating back to 5000 BC provides evidence of well-decorated tattoos in Japan. However, the practice of tattooing declined in Japan when influential figures adopted the Chinese belief that tattooing was barbaric. Tattooing was introduced to China around the Zhou Dynasty and became associated with punishment, with those who were tattooed considered outcasts in society. However, tattooing regained popularity and demand over time.
There is also evidence of tattooing practices in Greece and Rome, as documented by historical figures such as Herodotus, Plutarch, Plato, Galen, Seneca, Aristophanes, and Pliny. Tattooing was used for identification purposes in these regions, distinguishing citizens from slaves, robbers, prisoners, and soldiers.
Tattooing was also practiced outside the Roman Empire in regions such as Britons, Iberians, Goths, Scots, Celts, Germans, and Scythians, although it was associated with barbarism in their cultures. Coins depicting tattooed faces provide evidence of tattooing in ancient times. Remains of a female mummy with tattoos on the arms and hands have been found on the beach of St. Lawrence Island in Alaska, dating back nearly 2000 years.
James Captain Cook is credited with discovering tattooing in the Polynesian Islands, which dates back over 2000 years as well. The Polynesian people viewed tattooing as a way of identification and cultural significance. Different islands, such as New Zealand and Tahiti, had their unique methods and styles of tattooing, with patterns like the moko symbolizing rank and status. In Tongan culture, only priests of high rank were allowed to perform tattooing, which was associated with social status and used during social ceremonies. Warriors in Tonga were tattooed from the waist to above the knee, while in Samoa, the tattooing was done from the waist to below the knee. Sydney Parkinson and Joseph Banks, scientific translators, documented the history of tattoos in the Polynesian Islands and created images related to it, which led to the spread of tattooing to the Western world.
Captain Cook's travels to the Polynesian Islands with Prince Omai, a heavily tattooed Tahitian, sparked interest in tattooing among Europeans. Tattooing eventually spread to the United States, with Marin Hildebrandt becoming the first skilled tattoo artist in America. In the 19th century, the Bowery District in the US became known for traditional tattooing, and Samual O’Reilly invented a machine using electricity (1896), making tattooing more accessible and affordable to the middle and upper class.
Tattooing also had military connections, as seen in ancient Rome where soldiers were marked with tattoos to signify their profession and military units. Tattoos were also used to distinguish between active and former military members. In some cultures, tattoos were used to create connections among family members, especially among military men who were often away from their families for long periods of time.
Tattooing has an exceptional historical background as discovered by the archeologists and will continue even to our present life. With respect to living bodies. From then on till today the practice had continued evolving and even developing to modernized styles. It's significant in society will continue being analyzed. Tattooing and tattoos were perceived as a form of social communication that enhanced social interaction especially because it was imposed on the physical body where everyone could see. This is in that the ink pigment inserted in the body is directly linked to the body itself. This art vehemently produced a link between the body and society. Seeing a tattoo on someone was a symbol of something, it showed a new creature and identity. In fact, a tattooed person was a walking advert showing how their past life looked like.
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The word "tattoo" originated from the Tahitian word "tatu" or "tatau", which means to mark something.