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/

Tattoo Art, Benjamin Franklin, Forbidden City

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

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/

Cheetah facts, Quincy Jones, tattoo designs, Black Holes

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

Cleopatra, Wrigley Field, Daredevil, Tatoo Art, Black Holes