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Mon, May 18 2026, 18:09:13 [ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, [3], 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 ]

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Date Posted: 11:42:44 07/23/09 Thu
Author: Ian
Author Host/IP: cpc1-darl6-0-0-cust743.midd.cable.ntl.com / 82.1.142.232
Subject: Tattoo's

Having just had my first tattoo done, I got midly interested in the history of tattooing. As far as I'm aware, the oldest example of tattoo's can be found on the remains of the ' Ice Man', who ws found frozen in a Glacier on the Italy/Austria border in 1991, the remains have been dated as being around 5200 yrs old. Clearly, early European cultures employed tattooing to mark out either Shaman, or Elders, certainly people of special rank in their socities. Evidence of female tattoo's in Egypt date from 4000 to 3500 bce, with occasional female figures being shown in tombs circa 1200 bce and also in figurine form circa 1300 bce. Illustration at the the end of this post.

In Ancient Egypt, tattoing seems to have been soley a form of female decoration, and from what I can glean, Women who were at least of Priestess rank. The well known mummy of Amunet, found at Deir El Bahri, from her inscriptions, we know she was a high priestess of Hathor. Certainly I believe we can dismiss the conclusions of the early ' male' exacavators who thought that the Tattoo's signified women of loose morals, in their words 'dancing girls'.

As with most Egyptian symbology, I think it is safe to assume the tattoo's carried magical and protective meanings. The distribution of the Tattoo's are largely around the abdomen, on the thighs and the breasts. So perhaps it is safe also to assume some sexual meanings, and possibly connected to child birth as well, to be honest we can't be absoultely sure. Prominent among the designs are net like patterns of dots applied over the abdomen, very reminiscent of tribal markings we still see in Africa. The practice of tattooing in Ancient Egypt appears to have died out with the arrival of the Greeks.

The principle ink used, appears of have been soot, and Petrie discovered implements at Abydos, dated to around 3000 bce which could of been used to make tattoo's. Another set of implements were discovered at Abu Gurob, and dated to c 2000bce. These implements resembled small needles with flattened points.

I'd be pleased if anybody has further info/comments.... Regards, Ian

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