The meaning of tattoos is extensive, as well as its history and symbolism. Since from ancient times the man began to decorate his body with various symbols and shapes. With those who represented their beliefs, customs and traditions and were even used as a way to ward off evils in their lives.
This is how throughout history, they have been part of diverse cultures and peoples around the world. Therefore, to destroy the prejudices and myths that exist about tattoos it is necessary to know its fascinating history in different cultures.
Tattoos in prehistory
Although it is not known exactly when the man started tattooing, there is evidence that dates back to the stone age. In 1991 a group of archaeologists who were on an expedition between Australia and Italy found a hunter from the Neolithic era on a glacier. He had his entire back and knees full of tattoos.
Although long before such a discovery, the oldest tattooed person found so far was an Egyptian priestess named Aument, who worshiped the goddess of love and fertility named Hathor. The tattoos she had were very similar to those of the hunter, linear and simple, using dots and stripes in her designs. It is estimated that the Stone Age inhabitants tattooed their bodies using pointed bones.
Tattoos in ancient Polynesia
The ancient inhabitants of Polynesia were one of the first peoples to begin with the current tradition of engraving designs with meanings on the skin. The native men of that region tattooed their bodies until they did not leave even an inch of virgin skin.
But, for them, the meaning of tattoos had a religious and magical meaning. That is why Polynesia today has the reputation of being the place with the most artistic tattoos in the ancient world, with its particular geometric style.
In fact the word tattoo has its origin in the Polynesian language, specifically in the Polynesian phrase “tatau”, which is made up of the syllables “ta” which means drawing and “tau” which means skin, that is drawing on the skin.
Tattoos in New Zealand
In New Zealand, meanwhile, the meaning of tattoos, in addition to something spiritual, also became a status symbol within a social group. The Moko Maori style was a sample of it, a tribal tattoo that made the person different and easy to distinguish within the group. It is said that the more complicated the designs were, the greater the hierarchy or social status of the person.
However, it was a tedious and painful process. Well, people started tattooing from 8 years old and they did it from head to toe. As the person advanced in age, the tattoos were retouched and renewed until their old age.
One of the designs most used by the Maori was the spirals, which according to their beliefs was a magnet to trap cosmic energy. But, if someone without tattoos died, the relatives had to tattoo their corpse, so that it could find the way to immortality.
Tattoos in Myanmar
In Myanmar, ancient Burma, a legend tells that a king fell in love with a beautiful young woman of the Chin ethnic group, but a short time later he abandoned her to her fate and she suffered a tragic end. The women of the kingdom upon finding out this, decided that in order not to suffer the same fate, they had to tattoo their faces, they used charcoal to do it.
However, since the tattoos were very short-lived, they chose to use dyes mixed with charcoal to make them permanent. But the process was going to be very painful and lasted for days, since they had to inject the mixture with a fish bone.
Tattoos in the rest of the world
In ancient Egypt it was women who got tattoos and the meaning of tattoos was associated with protective and magical functions. For its part, in Central America, the tribes gave it a memorial use, in honor of the fallen, and it was also a way of worshiping their gods.
In Japan around the 10th century BC tattoos were used to mark criminals. A practice that was copied a long time later by the Nazis for whom the meaning of tattoos was basically a form of identification and humiliation for Jewish prisoners, since at that time Jewish law prohibited the marks on the body.
In countries of the Middle East and India there is a type of tattoos that originated in ancient Egypt, henna tattoos. These are temporary tattoos that women basically perform on the feet and hands, as part of celebrations and initiation rites. So the meaning of tattoos is magical and religious.
Despite the fact that in various parts of the world the tattoo was a form of expression. In the West it would not be introduced until the 18th century, thanks to English explorers including Captain Cook, who described the ancient tattoo process when coming into contact with indigenous people from the Marquesas and Maories islands.
Meaning of the most popular tattoos
Over the years, tattoos continue to be something innovative, which everyone chooses whether to have or not. So to understand a little more about them, here are some meanings of the most popular designs:
Eagle: It means freedom, strength, power and pride.
Anchor: Home, fidelity, security, hope and love.
Tree of life: It means the connection between heaven and earth, strength, knowledge, vitality and reincarnation.
Owl: Wisdom and intuition.
Compass: It means that its bearer knows where he wants to go and knows the way.
Heart: It means emotions, feelings, passion, love and friendship.
Cross: Represents spirituality, the foundations of hope and faith. Although depending on the type of cross it will have another meaning.
Dolphins: They symbolizetranscendence, friendship, intelligence and resurrection.
Stars: They symbolize the celestial, the infinite, longevity and love.
Arrows: They mean direction and the way forward.
Flower: Symbolizes youth, beauty, joy and happiness.
Mandalas: They represent the universe, spirituality and the repetitive nature of things.
Butterflies: Beauty, freedom and metamorphosis.
Eye: It means truth, wisdom and conscience.
Pigeons: They symbolize peace, love, hope, harmony and devotion.
Dogs: Loyalty and fidelity.
Roses: Love, innocence, fidelity, purity and passion. But if it has thorns, it means a life full of adversities.
Symbol of infinity: something that has no end and will never have it, also symbolizes eternity.
Without a doubt, knowing the meaning of tattoos is exciting. Well, although its symbolism is currently universal, several factors can influence its meaning to be different. Because according to the person, they tell a story, an event, a memory, or what they like the best. Although there will be people who will do it simply out of obsession or simple taste, however there must be a reason for it.
ALFA