When were the first tattoos in history made? It is always interesting to take a step back in time to discover the origins of the art of tattooing, which has been practiced for thousands of years, even if not everyone is aware of it.
Here are the first tattoos in history
When we talk about tattoos, we are talking about a custom that dates back to prehistoric times. Hands up anyone who knows that 61 different tattoos were found on the Ötzi mummy, discovered in the Alps and dating back to 3300 BC.
At that time, tattoos most likely had a magical significance, which is very interesting because it allows us to date the first tattoos to around that historical period.
Later, tattooed Egyptian mummies were also found. This means that even during the time of the ancient Egyptians, tattoos were very common.
Moving on to the Celts, we find the first animal tattoos, which were a strong symbol of courage and honor. These designs were mainly imprinted on the skin of warriors, who were the emblem of honor and strength. It was precisely by reviving this ancient tradition that the legionaries began to tattoo the same symbols on their bodies in admiration of the Celtic people and their warrior customs.
With the advent of the Greeks and Romans, however, things changed. Tattooing itself was banned and became a symbol only of slaves and deserters, who were marked in this way.
The tradition was revived by the early Christians. As is well known, there was much persecution in the early years of Christianity. Christians lived in hiding and, therefore, symbols on their skin were a sign of recognition. However, this was forbidden according to a passage in the Bible. For this reason, Emperor Constantine and later Pope Adrian loudly reiterated the ban on tattooing the skin.
However, we do have examples of tattoos dating back to that period. These are mainly warriors from the Crusades who used symbols as identification.
It was not until the 1400s that tattoos made a comeback. This was the Europe of early exploration and Christopher Columbus, of discoveries and the fashion for tattoos. This became even stronger in the 1700s, when contact was made with non-European populations who were heavily tattooed all over their bodies. Tattoos then caught on among the nobility and bourgeoisie, as well as sailors and commoners.
After the first tattoos in history, different tattoo styles and techniques emerged, making it more than just a passing fad. Today, more and more people in Italy and around the world are tattooed, and often behind each tattoo there is a story and an emotion that is always worth expressing on the skin.
