Tuesday, 23 December 2008

WHEN DID TATTOOS START ?

Paraphrased from the Globe and Mail (Toronto's National Newpaper):

 "A 4,000 year old man has been found in Italy near the Austrian border,

(originally it was reported he was in Austria, but both countries now

agree he is in Italy.)  Carbon dating will take a few months, but

artifacts found near him strongly suggest that  he is over 4,000 years

old...He is also tattooed...a small  cross is behind one knee and above

his kidneys there are a series of lines, about 15 cm long."

[Apparently, this account it not quite correct, as later datings placed

the Ice Man's age at closer to 5,300 years.]

Now I knew that the Egyptians tattooed each other, but that was only

3,000 years ago. I wonder how much further back this custom goes?

From "Tattoo You" by Steve Wind (Off Duty Hawaii Magazine, October '92):

 "The first Western references to tattoos didn't come until 1771, when

Captain Cook brought the word to Europe after seeing the artform in

Tahiti. Tattoos were associated with the lower class and criminal

elements in Britain and America until the early 1900s when, drawn by a

sense of freedom, decadence and sexual liberation, upper classes began

wearing them as well."

The word "tattoo" apparently comes from the Tahitian word "tatau," which

was onomonopoetic for the sound their tattooing instrument made. The

word was brought back by Captain Cook.

Posted by bavaroink at 1:33 PM EST

Updated: Tuesday, 23 December 2008 1:37 PM EST

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

WHEN DID TATTOOING START?
Paraphrased from the Globe and Mail (Toronto's National Newpaper): "A 4,000 year old man has been found in Italy near the Austrian border,(originally it was reported he was in Austria, but both countries nowagree he is in Italy.)  Carbon dating will take a few months, butartifacts found near him strongly suggest that  he is over 4,000 yearsold...He is also tattooed...a small  cross is behind one knee and abovehis kidneys there are a series of lines, about 15 cm long." [Apparently, this account it not quite correct, as later datings placed the Ice Man's age at closer to 5,300 years.] Now I knew that the Egyptians tattooed each other, but that was only3,000 years ago. I wonder how much further back this custom goes? From "Tattoo You" by Steve Wind (Off Duty Hawaii Magazine, October '92): "The first Western references to tattoos didn't come until 1771, whenCaptain Cook brought the word to Europe after seeing the artform inTahiti. Tattoos were associated with the lower class and criminalelements in Britain and America until the early 1900s when, drawn by asense of freedom, decadence and sexual liberation, upper classes beganwearing them as well." The word "tattoo" apparently comes from the Tahitian word "tatau," whichwas onomonopoetic for the sound their tattooing instrument made. Theword was brought back by Captain Cook. 

Posted by bavaroink at 1:24 PM EST

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

Newer | Latest | Older