History of Tattooing |
Tattooing has been around for thousands of years; tribes, warriors, even leaders have had tattoos. They were used as signs of leadership, marking of slaves, or just were for fun. They all have different meanings and can tell many stories. But back to the point-when did it all start? A man by the name of Otzi wore as many as 57 tattoos in the year 3300 B.C. and is one of the first to be cataloged with markings on the skin. Not long after that in Ancient Egypt year 2160 B.C. tattoos were commonly used. A short time after that Around 1000 B.C. tattoos were beginning to spread like wildfire. I made a timeline to give you more information listed below...
3300B.C.- Otzi’s with his 57 tattoos. 2160B.C.- Tattoos were commonly know in ancient Egypt. 1000B.C.- The art of “Henna” tattooing begins to spread more and more. 700B.C.- Romans and Greeks would tattoo their slaves. 600B.C.- Tattoos effect Christianity and Islam. 300B.C.- Tattoos in Japan are seen to have negative meaning. 306B.C.- Emperor Constantine bans tattoos due to religious meanings. 1600- Tattoo artist begin to spread in Japan. 1668- Modern Meji Japanese art make tattoos illegal. 1766- James Cook makes many reference to the word “tattoo” or the word "tatou". 1800- Sailors and soldier would get tattooed while there was an increase of tattoo popularity in Europe 1850- Circus brings new meanings to tattoos. 1870- First American tattoo shop opens for business. 1876- A link between tattoos and French prisoners are made. 1891- O’Reilly invents the first tattoo machine and become famous. 1939- Jews were marked with numbers during the Holocaust. 1945- Japanese identify tattooing with the Yakuza Mafia. 1950- Hippie movement increase tattoos. 1961- New York along with other states outlawed tattoos after the spread of Hepatitis. |
©2015, J. STRAWSER