The word Tattoo comes from the Polynesian word ‘tatao’ that means marking or tapping something. The term Tattoo was coined in the year 1769 by Captain James Cook, during his voyage where he met the Tahitians. He found that the Tahitians had decorated their bodies with tattoos. At that time tattooing was a painful process. There has been a huge change in the way tattooing is performed today.
As a initial practice the body art involved piercing into the body. This was done by inserting a sharp pointed comb into a lampblack and this was then inserted into the skin. In spite of the pain involved in the process a lot of people get themselves tattooed specially the arms. Te influence of tattoos then spread to Europe from its origin i.e. the Polynesian islands and Tahiti. In the early days tattoos were worn only by criminals, drunkards and sailors. Archeological excavations reveal that the art of tattooing dated back centuries and was an integral part of a lot of cultures. Egytians, Romans and Greeks made use of tattoos. Tattoos helped identify slaves and criminals.
Tattoos are used for both spiritual and decorative purposes and have often served as a mark of rank, status, spiritual devotion, religion and also as a mark of sexual lures. There are a few risks involved with tattoo and piercing, there always lies a risk of allergic reactions and infection. The solution to such problems is to opt for temporary tattoos.
Chose a tattoo that goes well with your personality. Read more about the various type of tattoos that are available and some tips on precautions. |
