NEW ZEALAND
the maori of New Zealand had created one of the most impressive cultures of all polynesia. Their tattoo, called ‘moko’, reflected their refined artistry - using their woodcarving skills to carve skin. The full-face moko was a mark of distinction, which communicated their status, lines of descent and tribal affiliations. it recalled their
wearer's exploits in war and other great events of their life.
INDONESIA
Borneo is one of the few places in the world where traditional tribal tattooing is still practiced today just as it has been for thousands of years. Until recently many of the inland tribes had
little contact with the outside world. As a result, they have preserved many aspects of their traditional
way of life, including tattooing. Borneo designs have gone all around the world to form the
basis of what the western people call ‘tribal’.
INDIA / THAILAND
Hanuman in India was a popular symbol of strength on arms and legs. The mythical monk is still today one of the most popular creations in Thailand and Myanmar. They are put on the human body by monks who incorporate magical powers to the design while tattooing. Women are excluded because monks are not allowed to be touched by them and because thais believe women do not need the extra boost as they are already strong enough on their own.
AFRICA
In Africa, where people have dark skin, it is difficult to make coloured tattoos as we know them. But they want to be tattooed anyway, so they have developed another technique - they make scarifications (this is not really tattooing, but it is related to tattooing). Made by lifting the skin a little, and making a cut with a knife or some other sharp thing special sands or ashes were rubbed in to make raised scars in patterns on the body, it can be felt like braille lettering... these patterns often follow local traditions.
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME
The greeks learnt tattooing from the persians. Their woman were fascinated by the idea of tattoos as
exotic beauty marks. The romans adopted tattooing from the greeks. Roman writers such as virgil, seneca, and galenus reported that many slaves and criminals were tattooed. A legal inscription from ephesus indicates that during the early roman empire all slaves exported to asia were tattooed with the words ‘tax paid’. Greeks and romans also used tattooing as a punishment. Early in the fourth century, when Constantine became roman emperor and rescinded the prohibition on Christianity, he also banned tattooing on face, which was common for convicts, soldiers, and gladiators. Constantine believed that the human face was a representation of the
image of God and should not be disfigured or defiled.
the maori of New Zealand had created one of the most impressive cultures of all polynesia. Their tattoo, called ‘moko’, reflected their refined artistry - using their woodcarving skills to carve skin. The full-face moko was a mark of distinction, which communicated their status, lines of descent and tribal affiliations. it recalled their
wearer's exploits in war and other great events of their life.
INDONESIA
Borneo is one of the few places in the world where traditional tribal tattooing is still practiced today just as it has been for thousands of years. Until recently many of the inland tribes had
little contact with the outside world. As a result, they have preserved many aspects of their traditional
way of life, including tattooing. Borneo designs have gone all around the world to form the
basis of what the western people call ‘tribal’.
INDIA / THAILAND
Hanuman in India was a popular symbol of strength on arms and legs. The mythical monk is still today one of the most popular creations in Thailand and Myanmar. They are put on the human body by monks who incorporate magical powers to the design while tattooing. Women are excluded because monks are not allowed to be touched by them and because thais believe women do not need the extra boost as they are already strong enough on their own.
AFRICA
In Africa, where people have dark skin, it is difficult to make coloured tattoos as we know them. But they want to be tattooed anyway, so they have developed another technique - they make scarifications (this is not really tattooing, but it is related to tattooing). Made by lifting the skin a little, and making a cut with a knife or some other sharp thing special sands or ashes were rubbed in to make raised scars in patterns on the body, it can be felt like braille lettering... these patterns often follow local traditions.
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME
The greeks learnt tattooing from the persians. Their woman were fascinated by the idea of tattoos as
exotic beauty marks. The romans adopted tattooing from the greeks. Roman writers such as virgil, seneca, and galenus reported that many slaves and criminals were tattooed. A legal inscription from ephesus indicates that during the early roman empire all slaves exported to asia were tattooed with the words ‘tax paid’. Greeks and romans also used tattooing as a punishment. Early in the fourth century, when Constantine became roman emperor and rescinded the prohibition on Christianity, he also banned tattooing on face, which was common for convicts, soldiers, and gladiators. Constantine believed that the human face was a representation of the
image of God and should not be disfigured or defiled.
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