When was tattoos first invented

When Christianity appeared, tattooing was considered a barbaric tradition and it slowly faded in Europe to return with transoceanic travels in 16th. Travelers like Sir Martin Frobisher, William Dampier, and Captain James Cook brought home with them indigenous people from places they visited and they were often tattooed.

As the tattooing became cheaper it again was seen as a mark of a lower class. It stayed like that until s and the hippie movement when it slowly entered mainstream changing from deviant behavior to acceptable form of self-expression. It became so mainstream that even Mattel started selling barbie dolls with tattoos. People of both sexes, of all economic classes, and of all ages wear tattoos if they want so.

The Picts, peoples who lived in eastern and northern Scotland, were famous for their black and blue tattoos. While other considered tattoos marks of pride, other saw them as barbaric. That didn't prevented tattooing to spread and create meaning of its own. Marco Polo found tattooing alive and well in Northern India and India, even today, has a tradition of making temporary tattoos with henna.

Legend says that Yue Fei, a famous Chinese general during the Song dynasty, had a tattoo across his back that said "Repay the Country with Pure Loyalty" and that it was tattooed there by his mother. Many of the tattoos were used for identification purposes if sailors fell overboard or drowned.

Seamen would get tattoos from the different ports that they sailed to. The tattoos symbolized the different destinations as well as the length of their journey. A turtle tattoo would mean that a sailor had crossed the equator and a swallow tattoo symbolized a journey of 5, miles. Throughout the s, cosmetic tattoos became very popular among women. Many would get popular makeup trends tattooed on their faces, as makeup was too expensive to buy.

Common makeup tattoos included eyebrows and lip liner. Traditionally designed tattoos were still less common throughout society and were not very socially acceptable. It was still mainly the so-called outcasts, such as circus performers, sailors, and criminals, who sported tattoos.

As tattoos were so socially unacceptable, most women would keep their cosmetic tattoos a secret. Social security numbers appeared in the s and everyone was told to memorize their personal number. Many resorted to tattooing their social security numbers onto their bodies so they would always have access to it. However, tattoos were still not socially accepted.

Those who got a social security number tattoo did so more out of necessity rather than desire. Those with a social security tattoo were not viewed in the same way as people with more decorative and personal tattoos. Tattoos were still only accepted on performers , sailors, and criminals. Not on upstanding members of society. The s saw new theories across society, that linked tattoos with repressed sexual desires. Albert Parry released a book, arguing that the whole process of getting a tattoo is essentially sexual.

With literature like this circulating, it is no surprise that tattoos were taboo throughout this decade. He added color to tattoos by creating his own pigments and adding them to his tattoo designs. The classic designs of this decade feature bold motifs and plenty of colors. Thematically, tattoos in the 40s were mostly centered around nautical or military motifs.

There was also an increase in patriotic tattoos, due to WW2. The war saw an increase in women to the workplace as well as an increase in women getting tattoos. This fundamental shift in tattoo design saw tattoo acceptance rise. Increased popularity meant that decorative ink came out of the shadows and was sported far more than in previous decades. Many of the Sailor Jerry style tattoos are classic and timeless, with people still choosing similar designs in the present day.

Throughout the s, tattoos became a reflection of masculinity. Those with tattoos were more likely to be labeled as criminals or thugs. Society had shifted backward slightly, and tattoos once again were seen as the mark of the outcast. For those who continued to get inked, the trend of nautical tattoos continued throughout the 50s. The decade also saw an increase in the popularity of chest tattoos. Tattoo parlors in New York were blamed for an increase in hepatitis throughout the s.

While this may or may not have been true, it certainly created a negative stigma around the tattoo industry. This meant a lot of people steered clear of getting tattooed throughout this decade. However, the 60s saw an increase of tattooed idols in the media, with famous musicians like Janis Joplin going under the needle. He is one of many mummies with extensive tattoos that have been found all over the world.

Historians theorize that tattoos in Egypt date back to BC and were used for decorative or medical purposes. Tattooing was apparently only done on women by other women, so it is believed the tattoos represented fertility and rejuvenation. If you need help with your next tattoo project, send us your idea and one of our talented artists will contact you personally.

Tattooed mummies from ancient China go as far back as BC. From what we know about China, tattoos were used as a way to mark criminals and bandits and warn others not to trust them.

They were primarily done on the forehead, back, and chest. Fast forward to , Captain James Cook sailed to Tahiti and discovered a culture that would revolutionize the art of tattooing, making it a worldwide phenomenon. This event was a milestone in the history of tattoos. Polynesia encompasses Samoa, Maori, Hawaiians, Tahitians, and other small islands.