THE tattoos are almost permanent decorations left on the skin to express particular personal or cultural meanings. It is a very ancient practice that has always had the purpose of “showing” our identity socially, as a sort of “visual identity card”. From the analysis of tattoos in different cultures and traditions, one can ask whether this practice can be considered a sort of visual identity card. In many cultures, these permanent signs tell personal stories, values, belongings and identities, making them a powerful means of communication. Rooted in human history for millennia, tattoos have always represented a form of visual identification, telling personal stories and symbols since ancient civilizations. Whether it is a simple design or a complex motif, each tattoo has the power to express who we are, going beyond words.
The origin of the term “tattoo” shows us how ancient the practice is
The term “tattoo” has very distant origins. In fact, it derives from the Polynesian tatauwhich means “to mark” or “to decorate”. According to historical reconstructions, the term tatau or tatwaw derives from the onomatopoeia of the sound ta ta ta produced by the sticks used by indigenous peoples to tattoo the skin. This word reflects an ancient and deep-rooted practice in many cultures of Oceania, where tattooing was used for various purposes, from religious to social, up to identity.
The introduction of the term tattoo in the West it is due to the British explorer James Cook who, during one of his voyages to the South Seas in 1771, came into contact with the Polynesian populations, where tattooing was a highly widespread and ritualized practice. Upon his return to Europe, Cook not only brought back with him a fully tattooed man, arousing great curiosity in European academies, but also helped spread the word “tattoo”. In this way and through Cook’s accounts and observations, the term “tattoo” entered European dictionaries, marking the beginning of a new era in the diffusion of this ancient decorative art in the Western world.
The first tattoos in history
For a long time, it was believed that the oldest known tattoos were those found on Ötzi’s mummythe man who lived between 3370 and 3100 BC, discovered in the glaciers of the Alps. His tattoos consisted of simple lines and crosses, linked to therapeutic practices.
However, more recent research has revealed that the oldest tattoos ever found have been identified on the body of two Egyptian mummiesdating back to around 5,000 years ago. These tattoos, which depict more complex images such as a long-horned bull, a North African sheep and S-shaped motifs, have been interpreted as tribal or religious symbols.
The discovery, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science by Daniel Antoine of British Museumhas significantly changed our understanding of the history of tattooing, dating the practice back by at least 1,000 years than previously believed. These findings not only highlight the antiquity of the practice, but also demonstrate how tattoos had a complex symbolic meaning even in the earliest known civilizations.
Different tattoo traditions compared and their meanings
Every culture has used the art of tattooing to tell unique stories, mark identities and show belonging. Let’s discover the Similarities and differences of tattoo art: from Polynesia, where tattoos describe our genealogy, to Chicano culture in the United States, where they become symbols of resistance and pride.
Polynesia: Tattoos as an Identity Document
In Polynesia, tattoos are not only an artistic expression, but are also deeply intertwined with cultural and social identity. In the islands of Oceania, tattooing is in fact a fundamental practice to signal the social status, maturity and genealogical roots of a person. Each symbol engraved on the skin tells the story of the family, of alliances and of belonging to a community. Precisely because the Polynesian people considered tattoos a sort of visual identity cardmen used to tattoo themselves completely, from head to toe.
Japan: From Marginalization to Art
Originally linked to social stigma, the Japanese tattoo, or “irezumi”literally “to insert black ink”, has undergone significant transformation over the centuries. During the historical period called Edo (1603-1868), irezumi became a hallmark of criminals. This stigma became deeply rooted in Japanese culture, so much so that even today tattoos are often associated with the “yakuza”, Japanese organized crime.
However, in recent decades, irezumi has experienced a renaissance. Global admiration for the aesthetics and craftsmanship of Japanese artists has helped transform Japanese tattooing into a respected and admired art form. So much so that today, traditional designs, depicting deities, spirits, and mythological creatures, are considered masterpieces of beauty and technique and replicated throughout the world.
United States: Chicano culture and symbols of resistance
Moving towards the United States, we cannot fail to mention the chicano culturewho has developed its own style of tattooing, deeply rooted in Latino identity and history. Originating in the prisons and slums of California in the 1940s and 1950s, the Chicano tattoo has become a powerful means of expression of cultural identity, resistance and pride of belonging of the Latino community. Chicano tattoos often feature religious icons, skulls, roses, and symbols that represent a close connection to their community and family.
Over time, the Chicano style has gained popularity beyond America’s borders, profoundly influencing tattoo culture globally and becoming a symbol of cross-cultural beauty.
Europe: between Ancient Rome and the Middle Ages
In Europe, and particularly in Italy, tattoos were not particularly widespread in ancient times, although there is evidence that some pre-Roman tribes used them as signs of belonging or protective amulets. In Ancient Rome and during the Middle Ages, tattoos were often used as social stigma to brand criminals and slaves. With the advent of the Christian Empire, the practice was also strictly prohibited, associated with the devil and considered a sign of dishonor.
The rediscovery of tattooing in Europe took place in 1769, when Captain James Cook brought back this art form from his travels in the South Seas. From that moment, tattooing began to regain importance and gradually spread, leading to the birth of the first tattoo parlors and, subsequently, to the introduction of the electric tattoo in 1891.
