Humans have tattooed or marked their bodies for many thousands of years. The earliest tattoos were believed to have been carried out on Egyptians in around the year 2000 B.C.
Following the discovery of the ‘Iceman’ on the Italian Austrian border who showed clear signs of tattoo patterns, that date has been pushed back to over 5000 years ago.
Tattoos can be found in all corners of the world. In the west they have become a form of art and expression of an individual’s character – others have deep religious or cultural meanings.
Tribal tattoos can identify the bearers social position within a tribe as well as revealing their religious beliefs. Tattoos have been a tradition among indigenous peoples for many centurys.
Tattoo designs are used as a mark of rank or status amongst groups or gangs. They are also used to show sexual conquests, acts of bravery, pledges of love, punishment, and as the marks of slaves, outcasts, and even convicts.
The word tattoo comes from the Samoan word tatau, meaning “open wound”. Sailors brought the idea of tattooing back to Europe in the eighteenth century where it spread into western society through the decades.
Tattoos are created from the insertion of coloured inks or materials beneath the surface of the skin. The very first tattoos were probably an accident caused through dirt getting into an open wound. This has led to a world wide following through the centuries.
Permanent unique tattoo designs are created today by inserting ink into layers of the skin to change the pigment. Tattoos are sometimes also used on animals as a form of marking and identification.
People have tattoos in any area of the body you may care to think about – some will cove nearly their entire body whereas others would rather hide a way a tiny image in a hard to see corner!
The people who carry out tattooing are known as tattoo ‘artists’.
There are many place to find unique tattoo designs across the internet, I have taken a look and found 3 that I thought were good, click here to take a look.
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