Tattoos: Origins And History
All throughout history, tattoos have been present in the cultural customs of many peoples. Some in ancient times would wear them as a way to represent their skill-set. In other cultures, they may have had ritualistic significance, thought to have the power to combat disease or evil spirits. The custom of applying tattoos has endured to this day, and is more popular than ever. We're going to delve into a few intriguing tidbits from the origins and records of tattoos.
The earliest confirmed tattoos originated in ancient Egypt, although it's likely that there were instances of the body art earlier in history. The Egyptians used them to mark the slaves and peasants. Tattoos likely spread to Asia and Greece around 2,000 B.C. Greek and Roman tattoos, called "stigmata", were primarily used to mark an individual as "belonging" to a religious sect or slave owner, or as a mark to publicly signify that someone is a criminal. Later on, the people of Japan picked up the practice of applying tattoos, and they often played a part in various rites and ceremonies. Tattoos became very popular during this period, although the risk of infection was quite high.
In the West, tattoos were at first not exactly welcomed with open arms. In 1961, explorer William Dampier brought tattoos back into the public eye by bringing the heavily tattooed Prince Jeoly to England and exhibiting him in London and the surrounding area. Tattoos had not been widely seen in there for hundreds of years.
The place recognized as the first to feature American-style tattoos is Chatham Square, in New York City. Around the turn of the century, people from all across the country came to visit a shop owned by Samuel O'Reilly, the first man to utilize the electric tattoo gun. The device, which is now the mainstay of modern tattoos, was actually based on an invention by Thomas Edison that used a needle point to puncture paper. The tattoo gun revolutionized the art, making it far more affordable and less time consuming.
Tattoo practices amongst cultures have seem to have become come about independently. Tattoos have been used for rituals and medicinal practices. The markings were also a way to identify tribes, religions, criminals and other members of communities. In the late 1960's the popularity of tattoos exploded and have remained a visible part of many cultures even today. It is estimated about half of the population in the US has a tattoo. Even today bikers, families, and other groups use them as a means of identification.
The earliest confirmed tattoos originated in ancient Egypt, although it's likely that there were instances of the body art earlier in history. The Egyptians used them to mark the slaves and peasants. Tattoos likely spread to Asia and Greece around 2,000 B.C. Greek and Roman tattoos, called "stigmata", were primarily used to mark an individual as "belonging" to a religious sect or slave owner, or as a mark to publicly signify that someone is a criminal. Later on, the people of Japan picked up the practice of applying tattoos, and they often played a part in various rites and ceremonies. Tattoos became very popular during this period, although the risk of infection was quite high.
In the West, tattoos were at first not exactly welcomed with open arms. In 1961, explorer William Dampier brought tattoos back into the public eye by bringing the heavily tattooed Prince Jeoly to England and exhibiting him in London and the surrounding area. Tattoos had not been widely seen in there for hundreds of years.
The place recognized as the first to feature American-style tattoos is Chatham Square, in New York City. Around the turn of the century, people from all across the country came to visit a shop owned by Samuel O'Reilly, the first man to utilize the electric tattoo gun. The device, which is now the mainstay of modern tattoos, was actually based on an invention by Thomas Edison that used a needle point to puncture paper. The tattoo gun revolutionized the art, making it far more affordable and less time consuming.
Tattoo practices amongst cultures have seem to have become come about independently. Tattoos have been used for rituals and medicinal practices. The markings were also a way to identify tribes, religions, criminals and other members of communities. In the late 1960's the popularity of tattoos exploded and have remained a visible part of many cultures even today. It is estimated about half of the population in the US has a tattoo. Even today bikers, families, and other groups use them as a means of identification.
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Tattoos are certainly an intriguing art form, but just as times change, so can a person's tastes and circumstances, and a tattoo that you once thought was a good idea can become a regret. But with laser tattoo removal treatments, you don't have to live with a regret showing on your body forever. Dr. Chris Willard is known for his skill and care in removing tattoos in his office in Denver Colorado. He puts the safety and comfort of every client at the forefront of ever procedure.
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