Interesting facts about tattoos. Tattoos are certainly familiar to the entire world community. Tattoos are often used by both men and women as an art or as symbols and have meaning. Tattoos are usually used on several parts of the body and certainly have their own aesthetic impression. A tattoo is a sign made by inserting pigment into the skin. In technical terms, this tattoo is the implantation of micro pigments. Along with the times, the art of tattooing is growing.
Apparently before being recognized and continue to grow, tattoos have a unique history and facts that are interesting to examine. These unique facts and history certainly add to the uniqueness of the tattoo itself. One of the unique facts about tattoos that are rarely known by the public is that tattoos have existed since 10,000 BC.
1. Tattoos are a status symbol
The first facts about tattoos is that tattoo can symbolize a person’s status. Tattoos can symbolize the status of the elite and the lower castes of life. For example, in Europe, especially Eastern Europe, tattoos are used to signify the lower class, generally associated with criminals who have been in prison due to poverty. While in Ancient Greece, tattoos were used to mark slaves. Tattoos in Rome were used to mark runaways. While for Mayan and Native American people, tattoos were a transitional status and a symbol of war or cultural achievement.
2. Tattoos have been around since 10,000 BC
Archaeologists have found ancient tools in areas around France, Portugal, and Scandinavia that resemble tools that may have been used to tattoo a person. This ancient tool is dated to the last ice age, around 10,000 BC. Meanwhile, a preserved skeleton called the Tyrolean Iceman, whose skin is still intact, also has signs of having been tattooed in his lifetime. Its feet, ankles, wrists, and spine were covered in crosses and parallel lines. When the skeleton was x-rayed, it was found that there were tattoos on joints that were prone to pain, possibly indicating that tattoos were used to cure diseases and treat pain.
3. The word tattoo originated in Polynesia
The next unique facts about tattoos is that the word tattoo itself comes from Polynesia. The word tattoo comes from the Polynesian onomatopoeic word “ta” which describes the sound of a tattoo needle hitting human skin. After this word was invented by Joseph Banks, tattoos are often referred to as a sign of stabbing on the skin in most of mainland Europe.
4. Tattoos Were Once Banned in Some Regions
The next unique fact about tattoos is that they were once banned. Pope Adrian I banned tattoos in 787. These banned tattoos included tattoos for gladiators, slaves and criminals. Since then, most of Western Europe has also banned the use of tattoos on the body for various reasons. Signs of people regaining their freedom of expression through art including tattoos were towards the end of the 19th century. Along with the times, tattoos are now allowed and a person’s personal right.
5. Tattoo Ink Can Cause Allergies
Some types of tattoo ink can cause allergic reactions in the human body. The most common cause of allergies usually comes from colored inks. Ingredients such as iron oxide, mercury sulfide, and cadmium sulfide can commonly be found in ink materials to give them a certain color. However, this does not make a person allergic to all inks. Black ink is much less likely to cause a reaction. In general, the color that most often causes allergic reactions is red.
6. Using Ink and Handheld Needles Before Tattoo Machines
Before the invention of tattoo machines in 1891, the most common method of tattooing was using ink and a handheld needle. This practice is still common, and has recently made a resurgence in popularity in the form of stick and poke tattoos. So, in 1891 a New York tattoo artist named Samuel O’Reilly designed a simple tattoo machine design inspired by the engraving machine (autographic printer) first invented by Thomas Edison.
