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/

Quincy Jones, Glacier National Park, Tattoo Art, Phantom of the Opera