Brief History Behind The Tattoo

By Author: Mayra Singh
Total Articles: 52
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A tattoo is an art form that is printed on the skin using ink, dyes, and pigments. It is done by using a needle that helps to inject the ink into the skin. Due to the constant injecting of the ink in the dermis layer of skin, it starts to change color.

The process of tattooing is not new, it has been around for hundreds of years, and in time people started to apply it for various reasons. In old times, native tribes and tribal communities use tattoos to show social status and influence. After that, at times of war, it was used for the identification of prisoners. And today, it is used for cosmetics and makeup.

To understand the journey of tattooing, it is crucial to know how it all started. The oldest evidence of tattooing was found in 2018 when scientists discovered two mummies. These mummies were dated between 3352 and 3017 BCE and were found in Egypt. Some other famous mummies were found in 2015, and after study, it was revealed that one of the mummy had 61 tattoos on its body.

Many Austronesian people from Taiwan and South China are using this technique from around 1500 BCE. For that, ...
... they use the same skin puncturing technique using small mallet and needle made from fish bones, oyster shells, and citrus thorns.

In Europe, tattooing set foot out of curiosity when many sailors from Europe sailed for foreign lands. In those foreign lands, the sailors saw people with tattoos, and those sailors brought them back and used them to draw crowds for money and public displays.

In America, the art of tattooing came in the 1800s, when a German immigrant, Martin Hildebrandt, opened a tattoo shop in New York. During the American Civil war, he became famous amongst the soldiers as they started to have tattoos. Hildebrandt started moving from camp to camp and tattooing the solider, and soon this became a tradition.

In India, tattoos were initially used at the symbol of class and social status, which later converted into fashion and markup. Before the 1900s, Southern India having permanent tattoos was very common, and in Tamil Nadu, it was a tradition to have at least one on it. In India, tattoos are called by many names such as Godna, Pachakuthu, Hachche, etc.

Currently, the art is used for fashion and markup, it has changed, and the techniques have also improved very much. As the trend of permanent tattoos started, people also started to get it removed using the laser treatment. In India, you can find an experienced dermatologist in Indore, Mumbai, and Delhi who can offer treatment for tattoo removal and delivering satisfying results as well.

Conclusion-
That is the brief history of how the art of tattooing was spread all over the world. From ancient Egypt to the Glaciers of Alps, to Asia, Europe, and America. How it used as the symbol of status. And how it had now become a trend in the fashion industry. History of tattoo is long and vibrant like the tattoo itself, and its journey has not yet ended.