tattoo

[GothicRogue]

Do you tattoo your body for a religious meaning? Like get a cross stamped on your butt, or for us celts, nice knot work around the arms.

[LV426]

A little Tattoo History

As the origins of art are rooted in early cave paintings, so positive proof of Tattooing is obtained from recent discoveries of ancient frozen mummified remains of early man that are covered in Tattoos.

The oldest tattooed body known to date was discovered in 1991. It is that of a Bronze Age man who died over 5,000 years when he was apparently caught in a snow storm during a hunting trip on a mountain between Austria and Italy. Together with the body were clothing, a bow and arrows, a bronze ax, and flint for making fire.
http://tattoos.com/scyth2.jpg The skin is of great interest because it bears several tattoos: a cross on the inside of the left knee, and six straight lines 15 centimeters long above the kidneys. Professor Konrad Spindler of Innsbruck University speculated that the tattooing could have been ornamental, or that it might have been used for magical purposes or to denote social status.
http://tattoos.com/scyth1.jpg
15000 BC ice age rock carvings show Tattooed figures, 4200 BC Egyptian mummies wear Tattoos. Archeologically validated works of art showing Tattoos started to appear about 30000 years ago. One must not forget that, with the exemption of mummies, all art on the Human body disappears into the fire or ashes along with its bearer.



http://www.tahititatou.com/GuerrierTatoue.jpg Polynesians used this art full of distinctive signs to express their identity and personality. Tattoos would indicate status in a hierarchy society: sexual maturity, genealogy and one's rank within society. Nearly everyone in ancient Tahitian society was tattooed.



Henna
For over 5,000 years, the people of Africa, Middle East and India have practiced the beautiful and mysterious art of painting on the body with preparations using the henna plant. This artform is also referred to as Mehndi.

The henna plant is thought to come from Egypt where it was called Egyptian Privet. Later henna was brought to India as a state gift from the Egyptians. Queen Mumtaz who ruled in the 1600's was the first Indian queen to be decorated with henna. Today, it is common to find artists practicing their henna crafts outside the Taj Mahal, which was built to honor Queen Mumtaz. Traces of henna have been found on mummies from 1200 BC. It is also known that Pharoahs hands and feet were first dipped in henna prior to mummification.

Traditionally, henna and the Mehndi artform is an important part of wedding ceremonies. The hands and feet of the bride are decorated by professional henna artists, called Hannayas in Morocco. The intricate and beautiful designs cover her hands and feet in a lacy manner. It is common belief that henna brings good luck. Ornementing the bride's hands and feet with henna is believed to bring love, health, prosperity, safety in childbirth, protection from harmful spirits and assure happiness in death as well.

http://www.tattoo-me.com/images/hennahands.jpg
Henna[/COLOR] was introduced by Muslims and quickly replaced Laksa. The henna plant was easier to find and grow. During the 16th century, henna’s popularity expanded through Pakistan and North India by the Moguls. Females used henna to decorate their bodies for ceremonies, especially weddings.


The Middle Eastern style consisted mostly of floral patterns inspired by Arabic carvings, paintings and textiles. This casual style did not usually follow a specific pattern. The North American style accentuated the shape of the feet and hands using geometric floral patterns.


The Indian and Pakistani designs extend beyond the hands and feet to create the illusion of gloves and stockings. These were made up of intricate, repetitive paisley patterns, lines, and teardrops. Finally, the Indonesian or Southeast Asian styles were a mix of Indian and Middle Eastern designs with blocks of color on the tips of fingers and toes.


All four traditional styles remain popular today, but have expanded under the influence of many different cultures. Celtic designs are the most popular, according to Day. Celtic designs typically take the form of bands and knots.


Pazyryk Mummies (pazyryk culture)
These mummies were found in the High Altai Mountains of western and southern Siberia and date from around 2400 years ago. The tattoos on their bodies represent a variety of animals. The griffins and monsters are thought to have a magical significance but some elements are believed to be purely decorative. Altogether the tattoos are believed to reflect the status of the individual.




Mummy of Amunet
(dynasty XI, Egypt, c. 4040 - 3994 years ago)

A mummy was found at Thebes. Amunet was a priestess of Hathor (the Egyptian goddess of love). All tattooed Egyptian mummies found to date are female. The location of the tattoos on the lower abdomen are thought to be linked to fertility.

http://www.vanishingtattoo. com/images/1850adegypt2.jpg
Females in 1850 Egypt were tattooed in a number of places...
with the hands, feet and faces being most common

http://www.vanishingtattoo. com/images/1850adegypt.jpg

Tattooing in the Pacific (Lapita culture)
The earliest evidence of tattooing in the Pacific is in the form of this pottery sherd which is approximately 3000 years old. The Lapita face shows dentate (pricked) markings on the nose, cheeks and forehead, suggestive of the technique of tattoo application.
http://www.vanishingtattoo. com/images/1800maori2.jpg
Maori facial tattoos from 1800AD New Zealand
http://www.vanishingtattoo. com/images/1800maori1.jpg

http://keibunsha.com/img_a/03.gif Tattooing in Japan (Jômon period)
The earliest evidence of tattooing in Japan comes from figurines called dogu. Most of these date to 3000 years ago and display similar markings to the tattooed mouths found among the women of the Ainu (the Indigenous people of Japan).




Tattooing in Ancient Greece and Rome
The Greeks learned tattooing from the Persians. Tattooing is mentioned in accounts by Plato, Aristophanes, Julius Caesar and Herodotus. Tattoos were generally used to mark slaves and punish criminals.


The Romans adopted tattooing from the Greeks. In the 4th century, the first Christian emperor of Rome banned the facial tattooing of slaves and prisoners. In 787, Pope Hadrian prohibited all forms of tattooing.




Tattooing in Central and South America
In Peru, tattooed Inca mummies dating to the 11th century have been found. In Mexico and Central America, 16th century Spanish accounts of Mayan tattooing reveal tattoos to be a sign of courage.

[IMG]http://www.vanishingtattoo. com/images/1850laos.jpg
http://www.vanishingtattoo. com/images/1850adlaos1.jpg
In Laos-Thailand-Burma in 1850's these so called
'tattoo trousers' identified a person's tribal origins

Tattooing in North America
In North America, early Jesuit accounts testify to the widespread practice of tattooing among Native Americans. Among the Chickasaw, outstanding warriors were recognised by their tattoos. Among the Ontario Iroquoians, elaborate tattoos reflected high status. In north-west America, Inuit women's chins were tattooed to indicate marital status and group identity.




Tattooing in France
In the 18th century, many French sailors returning from voyages in the South Pacific had been elaborately tattooed. In 1861, French naval surgeon, Maurice Berchon, published a study on the medical complications of tattooing. After this, the Navy and Army banned tattooing within their ranks.




Tattooing in England
In England, tattooing flourished in the 19th century and became something of a tradition in the British Navy. In 1862, the Prince of Wales received his first tattoo - a Jerusalem cross - after visiting the Holy Land. In 1882, his sons, the Duke of Clarence and the Duke of York (later King George V) were tattooed by the Japanese master tattooist, Hori Chiyo.

[Xzengrim]

I don't know if it's true; but I read somewhere that old-school Judaism says you're not allowed to have tatoos. I don't know if it's true, though.

I don't think you're going to get any favor in the hereafter by marking, coloring, peircing, cutting, or otherwise modifying yourself. (Assuming that there is a God), He made you a perfectly fine body when you got here and you shouldn't go hacking at it for no good reason. For that reason, I don't believe in cutting my hair or nails or anything unless it becomes necessary (but it's more out of principle than of religion).

[GothicRogue]

I think for me the most "religious" tattoo I would get is celtic knot work. No crosses, or Stars of David...just some pretty stuff.

[Wolffy13]

Well, I can tell ya' that my religion highly advises against it, with the whole your-body-is-a-temple thing. Religion aside, I could never get a tatoo, my taste in art changes way too frequently