Tattoo History

Tattoos and Royalty: A Colourful Tradition See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons When Captain James Cook returned home to England from his second exploration of the Tahitian Islands in 1744, he unknowingly brought with him a permanent change to European culture in the form of two native guides and interpreters named Omai…

Beauty Marks: A Brief History of Women and Tattoos By The Plaza Gallery, Los Angeles (https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2006687059/) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons Most people think of women with tattoos as a fairly modern phenomenon, but there is actually a rich and fascinating history of women and tattoos. From the ritualistic tattoos of the Tahitian islands and…

From Slaves to Royalty: A Brief History of European Tattoos Pict woman by Theodor de Bry [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons The history of tattoos in Europe has ancient roots and an intriguingly uneven development. The continent was regularly affected by influences from other cultures, leaving behind tales of tattoos appearing to be the marks…

South American Tattoos Abipones Tattoos by Martín Dobrizhoffer (1717 – 1791) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons In the time before Christopher Columbus, the rich and fertile lands of South America were inhabited by millions of indigenous people. These natives made up complex civilizations that ranged from hunters and gatherers to farmers and ranchers, with many…

Native American Tattoos Secotan Native Americans in North Carolina by John White, explorer and artist (British Museum, London) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons Much like Polynesian islanders, the Native American tribes of North America embraced the art of tattooing in their culture, using the process and practice to mark achievements, social status, and the coming…

Tattoos in Ancient Egypt Female Figurine from Egypt, Memphite Region, Lisht North, cemetery east of the tomb of Senwosret via The Met Museum Egyptians are known for the highly symbolic and stylised artwork found on the walls of their monuments and tombs, but they are also the source of some of the earliest recorded appearance…

The Ancient Art of Polynesian Tattooing Tamati Waka Nene by Gottfried Lindauer [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons The art and skill of tattooing amongst the native islanders of the Pacific Islands is an ancient and important part of Polynesian culture, and even though it wasn’t until almost the end of the 19th century that anthropologists…

Egyptian Tattooed Mummy Tattoos on the mummies of ancient Egypt aren’t unheard of, but up until now there have been relatively few examples of them, and they have all been geometric in style – made up of various dots, dashes, and lines tattooed into the skin. An Ancient Tattooed Mummy A 3,000-year-old mummy has been…

Tattoo History – The Rock of Ages “When I soar to worlds unknown, see Thee on Thy judgment throne…” The Rock of Ages is a classic religious image that has been applied as a tattoo hundreds if not thousands of times across the world. The iconic image is easily recognisable and it’s shape lends itself…