You like something, ink it! That seems to be the order of the day with tattooing becoming a raging fashion statement. People don’t shy away from getting tattoos done depicting their favorite star, symbol band, family member or even their dead dog. The human body has become a canvass for some master pieces of art. The purpose of a tattoo differs from person to person. Tattoos exude spirituality, lifestyle, social status, cosmetic glorification, decorative needs and medical purposes.Tattoo is the mark created by the act of inserting inedible ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment for artistic, decorative or ritualistic purposes. Tattoos derive their origins from the tribal body art of the Samoans.

Even though people have various reasons for getting themselves inked, the most common reason generally felt is, to make a statement or to get noticed. Most tattoos are associated to vibrant youthful days in one’s life. But the art of tattooing dates back to centuries ago where all the glamour and glitz surrounding a tattoo never exited and it was a very serious affair. The article attempts to take a trip down memory lane to centuries back to understand the historical importance of tattoos as regarded by our forefathers.

The word tattoo is a portmanteau derived from the Polynesian word ‘ta’ meaning strike something and the tahitan word ‘tatau’ meaning mark something. It is widely believed that the art of tattooing was discovered by an accident when someone with a small wound rubbed it with a dirty hand filled with soot and ashes from the fire. That mark is said to have become permanent

Neolithic Age
The discovery of a five thousand year old tattooed Stone Age ‘ice man’ in the early 1990s led to speculation regarding the history of tattoos. The body is said bear 57 tattoos believed to have been applied for therapeutic reasons.

Egyptian Civilization

Archeologists have found mummified remains exhibiting the art form of tattooing. The mummy of priestess Amunet, whose said to have lived between 2160 BC and 1994 BC displayed several lines and dots resembling a tattoo. This practice was limited only to the womenfolk of the Egyptian civilization as a ritualistic practice. The art of tattooing spread with the improvement in trade links between Egypt, and other countries including Persia, Arabia, Greece and Asia

Japanese Dynasty

The earliest evidence of tattooing in Japan was found on clay figurines dating back to 3,000 BC. Such clay figurines had their faces painted or engraved depicting the shape of a tattoo. Such figurines were found during excavations and were placed to guard tombs . Certain Japanese myths and folklores associate tattooing with religious and magical significance. Japanese interests for art especially pattern art forms like tattoos can be found the earliest written records about Japanese tattoos, believed to have been compiled during 297 AD. Japanese tattoo artists were called Horis who were undisputed masters at the art of tattooing. Their choice of color, imaginative designs and decorative patterns added a whole new perspective to the art of tattooing.

Polynesia

Ancient Polynesian tattooing is highly regarded for its intricate patterns and skillful designing. The strong belief of the Polynesian people that spiritual power of the life force is displayed through their tattoo has helped this art form prosper in the pacific cultures. Most of the history about tattooing has been passed down from one generation to another through songs, legends and folklores

The Samoan people regard the tradition of applying tattoos as the right of the earned. The right to apply a tattoo is determined by chiefs and their assistants descending from noble families and royalty been infused genetically. The applying the tattoo on a young male chief marks the attainment of puberty and is looked upon as the foundation of their ascendance to a leadership roles. Samoans regarded their tattoos as the celebration of their endurance and dedication towards cultural traditions.

In Hawaii, the people developed a traditional tattoo art form named ‘Kakau’ which not only served them for distinction and ornamentation but they believed that such tattoos were god’s means of protecting them and safeguarding their health and spiritual well-being. Intricate design patterns decorated men’s arms, legs, torso and face. Women were generally tattooed on their hands, fingers, wrists and sometimes on their tongue.

European travelers and conquerors took the art form of tattooing from Polynesia to different parts of the world

Central and South America

The land of ancient civilization, South America also has a history of tattooing also. Archeologists have found tattooed mummies from the Inca civilization in Peru dating back to the 11th century. Tattoos found on the hands to the Mayan people belonging to the Maya civilization baffled Spanish explorers. They discovered that the natives not only worshipped devils in form of Idols and statues but also managed to imprint them on their bodies with inedible ink. Staunch Christian that they were, Spanish explorer s began to believe that the native people in Mexico were believers and worshippers of the Satan.

North America

The natives of North America, the Red Indians were quite famous for their body art. The early recorded testaments by explorers state that tattooing were regarded as a status symbol and were displayed with pride. Women were tattooed to indicate their marital status and group identity.

The first ever permanent tattoo shop was set in New York in the year 1846 and thus began the modern era of tattoos by tattooing American soldiers fight on both sides during the civil.

So next time you step into a tattoo parlor to get inked, just think about the purpose, are you making a style statement or are you continuing a tradition dating back to the earliest civilization of mankind!