A Brief Tattoo History

By Becky McClure
The Dream Tattoo Resource Expert

The word, Tattoo, comes from the Polynesian word, “tatao” which means “to tap” or “to mark something.”

It is hard to place when the history of tattoos started. Evidence of tattooing has been noted in the writings of ancient Romans. They tattooed their slaves and criminals for identification. But the easiest answer to the question, where did tattoos come from, would have to be when a English sea voyager came across an island of people who systematically practiced and perfected the art of tattooing... the Tahitians.

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Captain James Cook introduced this word to the English during his voyage around the world in 1769. Captain Cook and his crew of the ship, The Endeavour, were welcomed with open arms by the friendly and uninhibited Tahitians (yeah, that means many of them were naked.) Since the weather was very warm on the island, clothing was optional.

The Tahitians tried to look their best by decorating their bodies. But the fact of the matter was the application of tattoos, which was painful. It was done by dipping a sharp-pointed comb into lampblack and then hammering it into the skin. Nonetheless, everybody did it.

As word of tattooing in Tahiti and other Polynesian islands spread, the European sailors began to get tattooed themselves. This probably illustrated why tattoos were looked upon with such a lack of credibility in the early days and were considered as a kind of thing suitable for drunkards, sailors and criminals.

Modern archeology has uncovered the practice of tattoos in many ancient cultures all over the world.

* In 1992, in the Alps between the border of Austria and Italy, a perfectly preserved body of a man was found. He was estimated to have lived 5,000 years ago! And he had 58 tattoos all over his body.

* Mummies from the ancient Egyptians had tattoos.

* Clay figurines found in Japan dated 3,000 years ago were engraved with tattoo marks.

* The ancient Greeks and Romans used tattoos to identify slaves and criminals.

But tattooing has only become acceptable in the mainstream society recently. Tattoo shops and parlors were nothing more than wretched hives of scum and villainy, located in the seediest parts of most towns have undergone significant changes.

Tattooing has really become popular with sports athletes. No one can forget the now-retired flamboyant NBA forward, Dennis Rodman, whose body was a tattooing canvas. A more current example is Allen Iverson of the Philly 76'ers. The tattooing trend is getting really popular in college basketball. And the trickle-down effect is appearing on high school athletes. Some old-fashion coaches forbidden any display of tattoos which meant some basketball players has to play with a t-shirt under their game jersey. Football fans can't miss the barbed wire tattoos on the well-developed arms of football players.

This article wouldn't be about a brief tattoo history if I didn't mention the main reason tattoos are going mainstream today... TV!

The popular show, “Miami Ink,” from TLC is a reality-based show. The show’s popularity demonstrates just how mainstream the art of body art or “inking” has become. And it gives the viewers a look into the skill and history of both the artists and their customers.

All the Best!

Becky McClure
The Dream Tattoo Resource Expert

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