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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