The history of tattooing essays

The history of tattooing essays Throughout history tattooing has been practiced by men and woman all over the world. From Egypt to Tahiti, from the Bering Strait to Japan tattooing has played a significant role in virtually every culture. Ranging from a rite of passage or a sacrifice to the Gods to symbolizing warrior class or simply the imitating of anothers culture the ancient art of tattooing is now accessible to virtually everyone who is of legal age allowing that the practice is legal in ones area. An affordable and everlasting form of self expression, tattooing and its history should be acknowledged by everyone. The word tattoo is derived from the Tahitian word tatu, which means to mark something. The exact date, place and reason for tattooing are unknown. It is, however, generally agreed that the ancient Egyptians used tattoos to indicate social rank as early as two thousand B.C. Hundreds of cultures around the world have practiced the art of tattooing. Russian archeologists discovered in nineteen-ninety-four the mummified body of a woman who is believed to have lived two thousand years ago. Her elegant burial dress along with the intricate tattoos in blue on her left arm led to the belief that she was a princess and a priestess in ancient Siberia. In New Zealand, the Maori and Tamoko used tattoos to indicate rank in society. The Maori developed a style of facial tattooing known as Moko for its warrior class. The Ainu of Western Asia also used tattoos to show social status. In Borneo women tattoo artist were marked with hand and finger tattoos to show their position as weavers in their culture. Burmese tattooing has been associated with religion for thousands of years. Tattooing among indigenous North American groups including the Arapaho, Mohave, and Inuit (Eskimo) is rooted in the spiritual realm as well. Tattoos of spirit birds were common in all of these societies. Each of these groups had a myth about a great flood, and it is believed that...