Tattoo Art of Body

Tattoo art is a cultural phenomenon, it seems that almost every college aged individual either has a tattoo or has thought about getting one. Tattoo art for a long time was viewed as rebellious behavior and would be prominently found on the likes of sailors, bikers and prisoners. However times have definitely changed and today's cultural norms definitely embrace the act of expressing yourself with the permanency of tattoo art. While it seems that tattoos have only been part of our culture for a few hundred years at best, research has shown that tattoo art has been around for far longer. If you have ever been intrigued by the origin of tattoo art- read on.

Tattoo Art of Body

Tattoo Art and the Egyptians
The Egyptians had an enormous influence on our art and culture over the millenia and for a long period of time it was believed that tattoo art actually originated with them. Evidence has been uncovered that tattoos were part of the Egyptian culture. Many tattoos can be still be seen on the various figurines, tomb scenes and even mummified bodies. It might come as a shock that tattoo art during the Egyptian empire was for women only. Men simply did not wear tattoos during this time. In fact, for a long time, researchers theorized that those women that wore tattoos were part of the lower classes and even included strippers and prostitutes. However, new research actually dismisses this theory.

After careful research it is now believed with a high degree of certainty that those women that had tattoo art were not prostitutes or from the lower classes, in fact, tattoo art was expressively for women in the higher classes. The tattoos during ancient Egypt were usually dots in a web like formation around the thighs, stomach and breasts. Researchers now believe that these tattoos served as protection for pregnant mothers and not a sort of Scarlet letter.

It wasn't until 1991 that a discovery in Europe turned the theory of Ancient Egyptians originating tattoo art on its head. Incredible as it may seem, tattoo art is an extremely old art form- perhaps dating back over 5,000 years. For those interested in the origins of this art form they consider to be fresh and new today, Smithsonian Magazine has an extremely interesting article on the subject.