The History of Tattoos
Pharos and slaves. Seamen and criminals. Aristocrats and the beloved. Have all shared one thing: the art of the tattoo.
Evidence from ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, the Pacific Islands, Japan and North America shows how truly global the art of tattooing is. In fact, tattooing had existed for thousands of years before England 's Captain Cook encountered it in the South Pacific in 1769. Merchants and naval seamen spread the art to Europe and the Americas. But while its meaning has varied from people to people and from place to place, tattooing has most often served as a sign of social status, as a mark of one 's passage through life, or simply as a way to beautify the body. (Krcmarik)
Once regarded in the West as frightening and repulsive, the tattoo has enjoyed great popularity in our own culture in recent years. Everywhere we look today; movies, advertisements, television, are signs that people of all walks of life appreciate and practice the art of the tattoo.
Incidentally, some scientists say that marks on the skin of the Iceman, a preserved human body dating back to 3300 B.C., are in fact tattoos. These markings represent the earliest known evidence of the practice. Tattoos found on Egyptian and Nubian mummies date back to 2000 B.C., and classical authors mention the use of tattoos in connection with the Greeks, Gauls, ancient Germans and Britons. (Krcmarik)
The word tattoo comes from the Tahitian word tattau, which means "to mark," and was first mentioned in James Cook’s records from his 1769 expedition to the South Pacific. Because tattoos were considered so exotic in European and U.S. societies, tattooed Indians and Polynesians often drew crowds at circuses and fairs during the 18th and 19th centuries. (Krcmarik)
Tattoos have been present for thousands of years. Some are traditional designs, some decorative, some with mystical meanings, all remain popular today. Definite evidence of the use of tattoos in ancient times has been found in various
Evidence from ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, the Pacific Islands, Japan and North America shows how truly global the art of tattooing is. In fact, tattooing had existed for thousands of years before England 's Captain Cook encountered it in the South Pacific in 1769. Merchants and naval seamen spread the art to Europe and the Americas. But while its meaning has varied from people to people and from place to place, tattooing has most often served as a sign of social status, as a mark of one 's passage through life, or simply as a way to beautify the body. (Krcmarik)
Once regarded in the West as frightening and repulsive, the tattoo has enjoyed great popularity in our own culture in recent years. Everywhere we look today; movies, advertisements, television, are signs that people of all walks of life appreciate and practice the art of the tattoo.
Incidentally, some scientists say that marks on the skin of the Iceman, a preserved human body dating back to 3300 B.C., are in fact tattoos. These markings represent the earliest known evidence of the practice. Tattoos found on Egyptian and Nubian mummies date back to 2000 B.C., and classical authors mention the use of tattoos in connection with the Greeks, Gauls, ancient Germans and Britons. (Krcmarik)
The word tattoo comes from the Tahitian word tattau, which means "to mark," and was first mentioned in James Cook’s records from his 1769 expedition to the South Pacific. Because tattoos were considered so exotic in European and U.S. societies, tattooed Indians and Polynesians often drew crowds at circuses and fairs during the 18th and 19th centuries. (Krcmarik)
Tattoos have been present for thousands of years. Some are traditional designs, some decorative, some with mystical meanings, all remain popular today. Definite evidence of the use of tattoos in ancient times has been found in various
Cited: Invisible Ink Company. “The History of Tattoos.” Web. 7 July 2010 Krcmarik, Katherine L. “The History of Tattooing.” Web. 7 July 2010