The History of Tattoos

There are many different versions of the history of tattoos, but one thing they all have in common is the meaning of tattoos in representing symbolism of different forms.

The word tattoo originates from the Tahitian word "tattau" which means "to mark." Tahitians used tattoos as rites of passage which told the story and history of the person's life.

From showing the clan association, in medical procedures to rank and ritual, all tattoos have a symbolic purpose. Even today, with its mainstream popularity, whilst tattoos may have moved away from being used for these reasons, they still have personal and often deeper meanings as individual as those who wear them.

Dating back over thousands and thousands of years, the purpose of tattoos has varied from one culture to another. A mummified human body dating back to about 3000 B.C. has tattoos and Egyptian and Nubian mummies from around 2000 B.C. have also been found with tattoos. In the past, women in Borneo used tattoos as a way to show their skills. They produced designs that represented the stage an individual was at in their life and the tribe they were associated with.

Egyptians are believed to have used tattoos as a way to mark their slaves and the poor. Research has also shown that around 2000 B.C. tattoos spread to China and then on to Greece. The Greeks using tattoos as a means of secret communication with spies.

The use of tattoos has also been incoporated by the Japanese, who used tattoos for ceremonial and religious rites. At this time, although tattoos were a long way from being perfect and infections were commonplace, they still proved to be very popular.

Although they were not intially well received, tattoos were also used for religious purposes in Western regions too. Explorer William Dampher is believed to be the man who re-introduced tattoos to Western areas. During 1961, be brought a heavily tattooed Prince with him to show off through exhibitions. Through these attractions he made quite a lot of money which in turn helped tattoos become popular and more acceptable throughout London and the surrounding areas. Before this time it was nearly 600 years since tattoos had been seen in the area.

Over time and across cultures there have been various methods of tattooing used. In North and South America many Indians created tattoos by pricking the skin. Pricking was also used in Polynesia, through the use of a rake-like tool to prick pigment into the skin. When introducing color, some tribes in California began to use scratches and the Maori people of New Zealand used wood carving techniques with a bone-cutting tool which made shallow colored grooves in the skin.

In New York City, Chatham Square was the first place to feature American styled tattoos. A popular destination for those with money, Chatham Square attracted people from across the United States. A man named Samuel Riley set up a shop which saw him become the first man to use an electric tattoo gun. This was based on Thomas Edison's electric pin, that used a needle point to puncture paper and is now a popular tattoo gun.

The electric tattoo gun features moving coils, a needle bar and tube, which are common components of the tattoo guns used today. The electric tattoo guns helped to revolutionize the art of tattooing as they enabled anyone who wanted to get a tattoo to do so at a great price. They also mean that tattoo artists were able to give tattoos quite quickly too. The combination of these factors meant that the popularity of electric tattoo guns grew quickly, making it a very efficient way to get tattoos.

The late 1960s saw the popularity of tattoos really take off and become more mainstream through features on television, magazines and throughout the media. Today, it is estimated that nearly half the population of the United Staes have at least one tattoo. With millions of designs, including different color combinations, they are sure to be a phenomenon which continues for a long time to come.