The scarification process now known as tattooing most likely goes
back to at least the Neolithic age (the New Stone Age). Tattooing
probably also has a prehistoric beginning. The tattoos frequently
displayed by modern aborigines are thought to reflect skin designs from
the Neolithic ancestors of modern Europeans. It is amazing to think
these designs are thought to date back twenty millennia or more. The
oldest verifiable example of tattooing goes back five thousand years to
the frozen, mummified remains of the "Ice Man" of Central Europe, a
frozen legacy in tattoo history. As with any historical topic there are
assumptions interwoven with fact, but the "Ice Man" is a factual example
of the vast history of this art form.
Further back in history, we can see evidence of tattoos on Egyptian mummies. These specimens date back up to four millennia ago and many believe they represent the true beginning of recorded tattoo history. The tattooed mummies are all female so it has been speculated that they were courtesans and that the tattoos served to identify this social strata of ancient Egypt.
After Ancient Eygpt came the Graeco-Roman world, which did not practice tattooing except as a means of labelling slaves. The Greeks and Romans looked upon this practice as being too barbaric, but not for slaves, illustrating the low level of feeling towards these unfortunate people. Celtic and Germanic tribes of the same era, whom the Romans considered to be uncivilised barbarians, extensively engaged in tattooing. The Picts, various tries who lived in what is now northern and eastern Scotland, did something entirely unique in tattoo history by painting their entire bodies the colour blue.
During medieval Europe is it is widely accepted that the art of tattooing became dormant. Catholic beliefs of the time forbade body ornamentation. Tattoos were condemned as being primitive and Pagan. Meanwhile other parts of the world such as Asia, Polynesia and what would become North and South America, tattooing was celebrated. Tattoo history was kept alive during the European Middle Ages by Asiatic and Polynesian cultures. The Maori of New Zealand developed elaborate spiral tattoos on the face and body that were an integral aspect of their religious beliefs. At this time the art was refined, becoming integrated with sacred religious rites and rituals. Many believe term tattoo we use today comes from the Tahitian Polynesian word tatu, which means to mark.
Western civilisation was once again partaking in tattoos as sailors returned from the South Seas adorned with samples of Polynesian tattoo art in the 17th and 18th centuries. As sailors travelling in Polynesia reintroduced the tattoos this art form was mainly associated with sailors for years. British and American artisans began to merge primitive designs with fine art, adding an additional dimension to the laborious process of the tattoo, which was a marker in tattoo history.
The first automated tattoo machine changed the art fo
rever. In 1891 Samuel
O'Reilly created the first automated machine which is still the basis
for the modern tattoo gun. This new invention made tattoos very
affordable and considerably faster to produce, industrialising the
industry in its own way. The automation of the tattoo has led to a
plethora of available designs, with design effects and intricacy that
was near impossible by previous methods.
Further back in history, we can see evidence of tattoos on Egyptian mummies. These specimens date back up to four millennia ago and many believe they represent the true beginning of recorded tattoo history. The tattooed mummies are all female so it has been speculated that they were courtesans and that the tattoos served to identify this social strata of ancient Egypt.
After Ancient Eygpt came the Graeco-Roman world, which did not practice tattooing except as a means of labelling slaves. The Greeks and Romans looked upon this practice as being too barbaric, but not for slaves, illustrating the low level of feeling towards these unfortunate people. Celtic and Germanic tribes of the same era, whom the Romans considered to be uncivilised barbarians, extensively engaged in tattooing. The Picts, various tries who lived in what is now northern and eastern Scotland, did something entirely unique in tattoo history by painting their entire bodies the colour blue.
During medieval Europe is it is widely accepted that the art of tattooing became dormant. Catholic beliefs of the time forbade body ornamentation. Tattoos were condemned as being primitive and Pagan. Meanwhile other parts of the world such as Asia, Polynesia and what would become North and South America, tattooing was celebrated. Tattoo history was kept alive during the European Middle Ages by Asiatic and Polynesian cultures. The Maori of New Zealand developed elaborate spiral tattoos on the face and body that were an integral aspect of their religious beliefs. At this time the art was refined, becoming integrated with sacred religious rites and rituals. Many believe term tattoo we use today comes from the Tahitian Polynesian word tatu, which means to mark.
Western civilisation was once again partaking in tattoos as sailors returned from the South Seas adorned with samples of Polynesian tattoo art in the 17th and 18th centuries. As sailors travelling in Polynesia reintroduced the tattoos this art form was mainly associated with sailors for years. British and American artisans began to merge primitive designs with fine art, adding an additional dimension to the laborious process of the tattoo, which was a marker in tattoo history.
The first automated tattoo machine changed the art fo
Jon M Taylor is the founder of Blue Banana Ltd. Although Blue
Banana is an alternative clothing company we pride ourselves on also
giving valuable information to our customers on the things which they
are most interested in. Now we have such a vast amount of information
available we thought we should share it with the rest of the World Wide
Web.
Title : Tattoo History - The History and Origin of Tattoos
Description : The scarification process now known as tattooing most likely goes back to at least the Neolithic age (the New Stone Age). Tattooing p...
Description : The scarification process now known as tattooing most likely goes back to at least the Neolithic age (the New Stone Age). Tattooing p...
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