Tattoo Art and its Origins

If you are one of the millions with tattoo art or if you are seriously considering one, you are probably interested in this art form. Tattoo art is one of the oldest art forms around and while for many decades there was a taboo about having tattoo art and certain types of tattoos are still frowned upon today, more and more people are fascinated by this form of expression and now have more liberal attitudes towards it.

Tattoo art is said to have started by accident probably thousands of years ago. It was believed that the first tattoos were of soot and ash that were rubbed into wounds by hunters and gathers. While tattoo art evolved over the millennia, discoveries such as the Ice Man found in 1991 (which is believed to be about 6,000 years old) and Egyptian mummies which are only a few thousand years old both have evidence of tattoo art.

Most of today’s tattoos come from Polynesians. As ships from the West sailed around the world during the discovery age, many came into contact with Polynesians that practiced this art form. This is why for a very long time tattoo art was a form of art popular with sailors and pirates. To read more about tattoo art, the Smithsonian Magazine offers an article on this fascinating subject. To read it, please visit the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

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Interesting Tattoo Art Facts

Tattoo art has become extremely popular over the last few decades as the many taboos associated with this art form became less stigmatizing. For those that are considering a tattoo, already have one or are just fascinated with them, the Smithsonian Magazine is offering an interesting article on the subject which is currently available on their main website. Tattoo’s have become such a big phenomenon that there is now much research being done on the origins of this art form and how this art form is viewed in our culture today. Here are just a few interesting tattoo art facts.

The Origins of Tattoo Art
For many that are fascinated with tattoo art, understanding where this art form originated from is important. Unlike most forms of art, for a long time it wasn’t known exactly how old this art form was or where it first originated from. Many researchers believe that the very first tattoos probably happened on accident. For instance if an ancient man or woman thousands of years ago had a cut or wound and rubbed soot or ash in it, this ash or soot would lye in between the layers of skin permanently. While accidental tattoos possibly happened frequently, it was first believed to be used for spiritual reasons by the ancient Egyptians.

Tattoo Art and the Ancient Egyptians
Tattoo art was a form of art that was found on a select caste of woman in ancient Egypt. At first it was theorized that these women may have been prostitutes or strippers, however later research indicated that these tattoos which consisted of small dots around the abdomen, pelvis and upper thighs were for protection of the fetus and mother during pregnancy.

Tattoo Art and the Ice Man Otzi
It is now believed that the Ice Man named Otzi which was recently found in the Alps in 1991 had tattoo art on his body. He is believed to be from either the fourth or fifth millennia B.C. He is suspected to be the earliest evidence of tattoos on the human body.

Polynesia Tattoo Art
The Polynesians also wore tattoo art on their bodies and it is believed they are the primary reason that they are popular with the West today. As sailors and pirates navigated the Polynesian Islands, they came into contact and with tattoo art. This is why tattoos are a common art form popular with sailors even today.

To learn more about tattoo art, the Smithsonian Magazine offers an interesting article on the subject. You can read it at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

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Tattoo Art and History

With tattoo art becoming more and more popular in this country and the culture at large finally dropping any taboos that this type of art and expression once had, many people are now more than ever interested in where this art form came about. For many people tattoos were once part of the schema of bikers, sailors, soldiers and Polynesians, however tattoo art is much older than most would imagine- going all the way back to at least the ancient world.

Where the Ancient Egyptians the First to Create Tattoo Art
For many years, it was thought that the ancient Egyptians were the first culture to express themselves with tattoo art. Tattoos have been found on mummified remains and hieroglyphic paintings throughout ancient Egypt. In fact, tattoo art was discovered to be only present on a certain class of Egyptians- only women. And it was thought for a time that these women might have been prostitutes. However, with further research it was revealed that tattoo art in Egypt was for the protection of women and their fetuses. The tattoos in the form of dots surrounding the womb, thighs and pelvic area were done so as to protect the mother and unborn child from evil.

Tattoo Art and a New Discovery
While it was believed that the Ancient Egyptians created tattoo art, in 1991 an artifact was found that put this theory to the test. To learn where tattoo art originated from visit the Smithsonian Magazine. We have a fascinating article on the subject. To read it, click on the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

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Amazing Facts About Tattoo Art

Tattoo art has grown exponentially in this country not only as an art form, but as a social statement. It seems that anyone under 30 either has a tattoo or would like to get one and with so many people thinking about tattoos, many are wondering where the origins of this art form come from.

While tattoo art has been a popular cliché for pirates, soldiers, bikers and Pacific islanders, tattoos have a much older history. For instance, for a long time it was believed that tattoo art originated from ancient Egypt. In fact, many drawings have been found and even mummified remains have tattoo art on them. It is important to note that tattoo art in ancient Egypt was mainly for females, in fact, it simply consisted of dots usually on the thighs, pelvis and abdomen area.

For a long time, it was believed that since only some women in ancient Egypt had tattoos, it must have meant they were prostitutes, however this view changed when research found that only certain castes of women were allowed to be tattooed and these tattoos were meant for protection of them and their baby during pregnancy. However, in 1991 a discovery was found that turned the theory that tattoo art originated with ancient Egypt on its head. To find out where tattoo art originated from, the Smithsonian Magazine has an article on the subject, you can read it at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

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The Ice Man and Tattoo Art

Tattoo art has exploded in our culture over the last two decades. As more and more people get tattoos many wonder where did this art form originate. While sailors, pirates, and bikers all are known to get tattooed, the origins are much older. In fact, for a long period of time, it was believed that the ancient Egyptians were the first to create this art form.

Ancient Egyptians and Tattoos
It was believed for a long period of time that the ancient Egyptians originated tattoo art. When ruins were dug up, many paintings and mummified bodies included tattoo art, however, it was strange that these tattoo markings were only found on females and only on a certain caste. For a short period of time it was believed that these markings were a sort of scarlet letter and that these women with tattoo art were prostitutes, however, these markings which were dots in web formations around the thighs, stomach and pelvic area were actually tattooed on for protection during pregnancy.

To learn more about the origins of tattoo art the Smithsonian Magazine has a fascinating article on the subject. You will be surprised how old tattoos really are. You can read the article at our main website at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

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Tattoo Art and its Interesting Origins

Tattoos are not only an art form, but part of today’s pop culture. It seems that a large majority of college age individuals have at least one tattoo and the taboo that once accompanied
tattoo art has been virtually eliminated. Whether you have a tattoo or not, many are still interested in the origins of this art form and the Smithsonian Magazine has the answers.

The Origin of Tattoo Art
Tattoo art is much older than you might think. While you may know that Pacific Islanders have been wearing tattoos for hundreds of years and sailors from the age of explorers used to adorn their body with this art form, tattoo art has actually much older origins. For a long time, it was believed that the Ancient Egyptians were the first to decorate their bodies with tattoo art. In fact, many Egyptian women can be seen painted with tattoos and mummified remains of women also show tattoo art. This evidence led many researchers to believe that Egypt was the birthplace for this art form. However, it wasn’t until a discovery in 1991, that the origin of the tattoo was debunked.

Find Out the Origin of Tattoo Art
For those that are interested in finding out how tattoo art originated, the Smithsonian Magazine has an interesting article on the subject. To read it, please visit our main website at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

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Tattoo Art and its Origins

Tattoo art is a cultural phenomenon, it seems that almost every college aged individual either has a tattoo or has thought about getting one. Tattoo art for a long time was viewed as rebellious behavior and would be prominently found on the likes of sailors, bikers and prisoners. However times have definitely changed and today’s cultural norms definitely embrace the act of expressing yourself with the permanency of tattoo art. While it seems that tattoos have only been part of our culture for a few hundred years at best, research has shown that tattoo art has been around for far longer. If you have ever been intrigued by the origin of tattoo art- read on.

Tattoo Art and the Egyptians
The Egyptians had an enormous influence on our art and culture over the millennia and for a long period of time it was believed that tattoo art actually originated with them. Evidence has been uncovered that tattoos were part of the Egyptian culture. Many tattoos can be still be seen on the various figurines, tomb scenes and even mummified bodies. It might come as a shock that tattoo art during the Egyptian empire was for women only. Men simply did not wear tattoos during this time. In fact, for a long time, researchers theorized that those women that wore tattoos were part of the lower classes and even included strippers and prostitutes. However, new research actually dismisses this theory.

After careful research it is now believed with a high degree of certainty that those women that had tattoo art were not prostitutes or from the lower classes, in fact, tattoo art was expressively for women in the higher classes. The tattoos during ancient Egypt were usually dots in a web like formation around the thighs, stomach and breasts. Researchers now believe that these tattoos served as protection for pregnant mothers and not a sort of Scarlet letter.

It wasn’t until 1991 that a discovery in Europe turned the theory of Ancient Egyptians originating tattoo art on its head. Incredible as it may seem, tattoo art is an extremely old art form- perhaps dating back over 5,000 years. For those interested in the origins of this art form they consider to be fresh and new today, Smithsonian Magazine has an extremely interesting article on the subject. To learn what scientists believe to be the origin of tattoos today, please visit our main website at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

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Tattoo Art: An Old Art Form

Tattoos are extremely popular these days. Walk around any college campus and you will see tattoo art on practically every part of the body- on both men and women. With the popularity of tattoo art soaring in the last couple of decades, many that now have tattoos wonder where this art form originated from. The Smithsonian Magazine has also been fascinated with tattoo art and recently put together and extremely interesting article regarding this phenomenon.

Originally, tattoo art was believed to come from Egypt. During archeological diggings, scientists found both paintings and mummified bodies that included tattoo art. However, it turned out that tattoos were only found on woman and in addition a certain caste of woman. Finally it was understood that tattoo art in Egyptian culture were used to ward off evil for a pregnant woman. The tattoo art took shape in the designs of simple dots or webs that covered the abdomen area.

However, a recent discovery in 1991 stood this theory on its head. Egyptians were in fact, not the originators of tattoo art- tattoos occurred much earlier. To find out who originated this art form that has become extremely popular today, please visit Smithsonian Magazine at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

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Tattoo Art Throughout the Ages

Tattoo art has been part of human culture for thousands of years and while it was originally assumed that these tattoos were added to one’s body as an expressive art, many clues have surfaces as to the real reasons for their existence. Fast forward to today and tattoo art and culture are extremely popular. Visit any college campus and you will see many men and women adorning themselves with tattoos.

Tattoo Art in Egypt
It was believed for a long period of time that tattoo art originated in Ancient Egypt where many figurines, tomb scenes and mummified bodies were found with tattoo art on them. It should be noted where as one might think tattoos was a way for male self expression, tattoo art in ancient Egypt was only found on women. For a short time researchers thought that the act of tattooing an Egyptian women meant that she was a prostitute or a dancer, usually being of no importance.

However as more research was done on this evidence it was discovered that only a certain class of women wore tattoo art and these women did not belong to the lower classes, but the more important upper classes in Egyptian society. It is now believed that the tattoo art of ancient Egyptian women were located almost exclusively over the breasts, upper thigh and stomach. The designs used were generally a net like pattern of dots across the skin. It is now believed that the ancient Egyptian women used the tattoo as a form of protection rather than self expressive decoration and it was meant to keep the mother and children in the womb safe during the pregnancy and childbirth.

However, a discovery in 1991 turned the theory of who invented tattoo art on its head. To learn the fascinating origins of tattoos, please visit the Smithsonian Magazine’s main website today at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

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The Origins of Tattoo Art

Today, tattoo art is commonplace. In fact it seems that the majority of the population under 30 has some kind of tattoo. While tattoo art is extremely popular today, during many parts of human history, tattoo art was for select individuals or only for certain classes.

Tattoo art was once believed to have originated with the Ancient Egyptians. There is plenty of evidence from paintings to mummified remains that show tattoo art as a part of their culture and religion. However, unlike today only women of a certain class were tattooed. In fact, tattoo art served a purpose other than art, it was meant to protect a pregnant woman from evil. Ancient Egyptian women in the higher classes were tattooed with dots and web type deigns near the womb to protect the mother and her fetus.

While most researchers believed for a long time that Ancient Egyptians originated tattoo art, it wasn’t till 1991, when an incredible discovery turned this theory on its head. To learn more about the fascinating history of tattoo art Smithsonian Magazine is offering an interesting article.

To visit Smithsonian Magazine and learn more about the origins of tattoo art, please visit our main website at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

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Tattoo Designs: When Did They Begin

Go to any college campus and you will see plenty of tattoo designs. In fact, it seems that tattoos are more popular than ever leading many to think about and research when did tattooing begin?

Tattoo designs actually have an extremely old history. While you might think tattoos were popular with bikers in the late 1940’s and 50’s or sailors several hundred years ago, it was believed just 20 years ago that the ancient Egyptians were the ones that started this incredible cultural art form. Many women were found in ancient Egypt with tattoos on their body. Mainly in the design of nets or dots found on the hips or stomachs of women in ancient Egypt, it was believed that these tattoo designs were to protect the women during childbirth. It should also be mentioned that not all ancient Egyptian women were tattooed, just special social classes of women.

However, in 1991 when the famous Iceman was found, there was a startling tattoo design also found on his hands. Since the Iceman is much older than those of Ancient Egypt, the beginning of tattoo art was pushed even further back into the beginnings of human civilization. For more fascinating facts about the history of tattoo designs, please visit the Smithsonian magazine site at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

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The History of Tattoo Art

If you look around these days, it seems that more and more people are opting for some kind of tattoo art.  While tattoos has become popular in recent years, it wasn’t always considered a popular way to express one self.  Tattoo art has had a long and interesting history and the tattoo goes back pretty much to the beginning of human civilization.

It was believed only a few decades ago that tattoo art was created first by the Egyptians.  Tattoo art has been found in wall painting and on mummified corpses of a certain class of women.  In fact, tattoo art was only used on Egyptian women- and only for the higher classes.  These tattoos were used most likely for protection and almost exclusively in net dot-like patterns that were found over the breasts, stomach and upper thigh.   They also included figures of Bes, an Ancient Egyptian god that protected women giving birth.

While it was believed that Egyptians were the first to cover their bodies with tattoo art, when the infamous Ice Man was found in 1991, he was too sporting tattoos, turning the theory that the Egyptians created tattoos on its head.  For more interesting facts regarding tattoo art, Smithsonian Magazine has put together an article that should not be missed.  Please visit the following link to read it:  http://www.smithsonianmag.com

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Tattoos and Women: A History of the Tattoo in Ancient Egypt

Tattoos have been a part of human culture and expression for quite a lot longer than you might have thought. The earliest known tattoo art goes back over 5,000 years, and was found on the famous mummified Ice Man discovered in 1991. Before the Ice Man was discovered, however, it was well-known that tattooing was a popular practice in other ancient cultures-- and especially ancient Egypt.

Evidence that tattoo art were worn in ancient Egypt comes from figurines, tomb scenes, and mummified bodies. Interestingly enough, all of these tattoos were found on women or depictions of women; they simply weren’t used for men. Because of this, there was once a lot of doubt among archeologists (who were, of course, mostly male) about the validity of the tattoo as a true Egyptian cultural practice. Since all tattoos were found on women, it was assumed that they simply marked dancing girls or run-of-the-mill prostitutes… and they weren’t particularly important.

But as time passed and tattoo art and their owners were examined more carefully, it became clear that, though tattooing was restricted to ancient Egyptian women, it wasn’t restricted to women of poor or unimportant status. Many of the tattoo-bearing female mummies discovered by archeologists were found in buried in Deir el-Bahari, a burial area intended for high-status members of Egyptian society. This was not where simple, low-status prostitutes were buried. In fact, it was later discovered that one of the tattoo-bearing mummies buried here was a high priestess… and definitely not a woman of little importance.

And so the purpose of tattoo art in Egyptian culture was re-examined. Why were so many Egyptian women marked with them, and what did they mean? The answer to this lies in the tattoos themselves. The tattoos of Ancient Egyptian women were located almost exclusively over the breasts, stomach, and upper thigh. The tattoo design, rather than the flowers or beasts seen in later cultures, was generally a net-like pattern of dots across the skin, similar to the bead nets placed across mummies after being wrapped.

In essence, tattoo art in ancient Egypt was used for protection rather than decoration; in particular for protection during pregnancy and birth. During a pregnancy, the net-like pattern of the tattoo would expand across the stomach protectively, and figures of Bes, the ancient Egyptian god who protected women during childbirth, were tattooed on their thighs. All of this was meant to keep children healthy in the womb and protect both mother and child during pregnancy and childbirth.

To learn more about the history of tattoo art, including ancient tattooing tools and methods, visit the Smithsonian Magazine website at: http://www.smithsonianmag.com

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History of the Tattoo

Look around and you will see plenty of people in today’s society (especially, those 30 and younger) sporting works of art on their skin. Tattoo art has come a long way and their negative connotation has pretty much diminished. For those fascinated by this art form, it should be noted that tattoos are not a form of art that began recently.

It might be very interesting to know just how old the act of tattooing oneself is. In fact, one of the most startling discoveries of the now infamous Iceman in 1991, was that he had many tattoos on his skin. Carbon dating at the time put his age at about 5,200 years, making his tattoo art the oldest known in history.

Before this time, it was thought that the Egyptians started this art form from about 3,500 to 4,000 BC. While in recent decades and century’s men were the ones that would display their tattoos proudly, in Egypt tattoos were for females only. Tattoo art has been found on mummified female bodies in Egypt. However, this practice was usually limited to a certain class of women since these mummified remains were found in only elite burial grounds.

Tattoo art has a fascinating history and for those looking to learn much more, Smithsonian Magazine has a wonderful article regarding the history of tattoos. For more insight and interesting facts, visit us today at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com

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From the Iceman to Ice-T: History of Tattoo Art

The pierced and leather-clad biker wandering, freshly-decorated, out of the local tattoo parlor may think he's doing something incredibly original. But he probably doesn’t realize that tattoo art has been a part of man’s history for over 5,000 years. And while an ancient man may not have had, say, an art tattoo of a Chevy pickup truck engraved into a burly bicep, the practice hasn’t changed all that much since it began.

The First Tattoos
But how far back, really, does the art tattoo go? The oldest tattoo art on record were found in 1991 on the body of the famous Iceman. At the time of his discovery, the Iceman was carbon dated at 5,200 years old… and he had enough tattoos to make him fit in easily in any biker bar.

Before the Iceman was discovered, it was thought that the oldest tattoo art came out of Egypt, starting in 4000-3500 B.C.. Interestingly, the practice in ancient Egypt was limited to women. Figurines of Egyptian women (and the mummified bodies of the women themselves) were often decorated with tattoos. The practice wasn’t limited to only one class of Egyptian woman; art tattoos were discovered even on women buried in even the most elite buying grounds.

Why Cultures Tattooed
In most ancient cultures, the tattoo art was a sign of status. In Altai, tattoos were used to symbolize nobility of birth; those that didn’t have them were “of low birth.” In Briton, too, the nobility wore art tattoos-- often of animals and beasts. The members of one tribe were so heavily tattooed that they were called the Picti, or “the painted people.”

However, tattoo art has also been used throughout ancient history as a method of healing or protection. In ancient Egypt, for example, tattoos were given to women mainly on specific parts of their bodies: the breasts, the stomach, and the thighs. Some believe that these tattoos were given to pregnant Egyptians for protection during pregnancy and birth.

The Iceman, too, is believed to have protective or therapeutic tattoo art. The surest sign of this is that the locations of his tattoos don’t match up with the concept of displaying status-- the Iceman is tattooed in difficult-to-display parts of his body. Specialists have discovered that the art tattoos on his lower back, knee, and ankle match strained spots where probably experienced pain during life.

We have always been fascinated by our bodies; almost every culture marks their beliefs on the body in some way. The tattoo art in particular has a fascinating history. To read more about modern and ancient tattooing, including the history behind modern tattooing, visit the Smithsonian Magazine website at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/