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Now keep reading for some real tattoo history.

Tattoos are not merely an art form any more of the elite or related to societal mobsters. Both younger and older people and from all walks of life are finding out their own exact meaning in tattoos. Once only related to societal defaulters, tattoos were created among close people bonded by common interests and by people expressing their own singularity. Tattooing is modern in its form only in the tools and designs used. The idea and skill of creating tattoos has been in existence for many centuries, starting as early as Ancient Egypt around 2000 B.C.

Ancient Egyptian mummies have been discovered with evidence of lines and dot patterns tattooed on their bodies. They are majorly female Egypt’s mummies and the multitude of patterns on the bodies match those drawn on figurines from the same period. A group of these figurines have been associated with the Goddess Hathor. One of the best known tattooed Egyptian mummies is that of Amunet, a priestess of the Goddess of Hathor.

The art of creating tattoos in Egypt developed from the Nubians. It gained mature characteristics and it blossomed during times of Middle Kingdom and well beyond. The highest count of these early tattoos were created on women and for ritualistic practices.

Beyond Egypt, tattoo art was popular in Japan and other Asian cultures. Throughout Yayoi, Jomon and Kofun eras tattooing blossomed. Archeological research has discovered dogu (figurines) made through these historical periods with markings around the mouth thought to be tattoos. These marks have caused combative opinions, but evidence of tattoo markings on Asian people of this period support the argument that the marks are tattoos and not mere ornamental decorations.

During Yayoi era, 300 B.C. – 300 A.D., men in Japan and China decorated their faces and bodies to ward off large serpents and evil forces and spirits. The variations and size of the tattoos differed according to the societal position and rank of the individual.

Tattooing through the Kofun times of 300 – 600 A.D. Took on more meaning through the society. Thieves bore specific tattoos and tattooing came to be a punishment for other crimes and associated with prisoners and gangs. Tattooing was not something done by the upper society. To this day, in Japan, ideas about tattoos have not changed much and are still thought of as being associated with the mob, criminals and deviants of lower society.

In other parts of the world, tattooing was reserved to the elitist culture. People are often amazed to note that royalty such as King George V, Grand Duke Alexis of Russia and King Harold bore tattoos. In the past, tattooing was an expensive form of art expression, not accessible to regular individuals. Tattoo artists were praised as highly as brush artists.

In the 1700’s in London, a heavily tattooed Polynesian male name Omai caused a major sensation. Some upper class people requested small discrete tattoos after seeing his artistic body.

In early American history, the tattoo was one of those things that only elite did. Native Americans were well known for their tattoos and many European Americans started to see tattooing differently with the elite of Europe showing tattoos.

The popularity of the tattoo remained with the military during World War II. Sailors and soldiers bore their allegiances to their country and their women with body art. They bore names of their units, ships and divisions proudly. Tattoo shops were located on docks and near military bases and tattooing thrived.

The introduction of the electric tattoo gun caused the prices to drop and tattooing to be accessible to everyone. This led the tattoo to be associated with lower classes, including circus people who often displayed extravagant facial designs and full body tattoos.

Another change in tattooing history came with the Hippie movement. Before and throughout these times, people were having peace signs, ying yangs and other symbols tattooed. Flower power was permanently placed as body art and proudly displayed. After the Hippie movement many of the tattooed held prominent jobs within the common society. No longer were tattoos for the societal crooks.

Today, tattooing has reached a new popularity. Henna, an Indian practice, is popular as long lasting temporary body art and more temporary tattoos are emerging and found in all types of stores. No longer just for the elite and no longer strictly associated with the social defaulters, tattooing has reached its own level of individuality, as unique as the tattoo artist and the tattooed.

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