Raise your hand if you know the history of tattoos from their beginnings to the present day. Probably more people will keep their arms down, which is why I want to talk about it in detail.
This is because it involves a series of concepts that are very important not only for those who are passionate about tattoos, but also for those who decide to get one or more: it’s always nice to know the history and meaning of what you do!
So let’s take a closer look at the history of tattoos, where this trend originated and, above all, when.
All about the history of tattoos
The first thing to note is that this practice has its roots not centuries, but millennia ago. In fact, it is estimated that tattooing originated around 5000 years ago. However, the first recorded use of the term was in 1769, when James Cook, the famous English captain, landed in Tahiti and discovered that the local people had a custom of tattooing their skin. This is how the term was coined. At first, it was written and pronounced “Tattow,” and then later “tattoo.” In both cases, it is a word derived from an onomatopoeia. To be precise, it comes from “tau tau,” which is the sound made by wood hitting the needle, which in turn pierced the skin.
However, as mentioned, the tradition is much, much older. The first evidence comes from the discovery in 1991 of a frozen body in the Otzalet Alps: scientists have estimated that the man in question lived about 5300 years ago. Tattoos were found on the body which, according to the findings, were obtained by rubbing charcoal on incisions made on the skin.
Other evidence comes from Ancient Egypt, where tattoos were found on the bodies of some mummified women. The Celts also loved tattoos, especially those representing lucky animals such as birds, fish, cats, etc.
Many Christians then began to tattoo the cross on their foreheads as a symbol of their faith.
Returning to Cook, he reported that the Maori tended to sign their treaties by copying each other’s tattoos. These were called moko and are still used today by that specific population to indicate membership of one family rather than another.
From that moment on, tattoos appeared more and more frequently and many styles have emerged over time, right up to the present day.
It has been a very interesting journey, which has brought us to the latest trends in tattoos. Even today, for example, old school tattoos are in fashion, as are those reminiscent of the Maori tradition and those inspired by Japanese tradition. These have been joined by more modern styles that are very popular today.
