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A Short History Of TattooingFebruary 2004 Tattooing - together with all forms of body art - has never been so popular in the Western world. People from every walk of life are adopting this permanent method of decorating their bodies and expressing their individuality. The fact that so many people in the public eye - from pop stars to sports personalities - have tattoos means that many of their fans are keen to follow suit. But there is always the opportunity to create something entirely unique, to use your body as a canvas on which produce a one-off, living work of art. Tattooing has a long and ancient heritage. Tattoos have been found on Egyptian mummies dating from before 2000 BC. Their use is mentioned in classical literature relating to the Greeks, Gauls, and ancient Britons. After the advent of Christianity, tattooing was forbidden in Europe, but it persisted in the Middle East and many other parts of the world, including North America, the Far East and the Arctic regions. Rediscovering a lost artThe art of tattooing was rediscovered by Europeans when exploration brought them into contact with American Indians and Polynesians. The word "tattoo" itself was introduced into English and other European languages from Tahiti, where it was first recorded by Captain James Cook's expedition in 1769. Tattooed Indians and Polynesians, and later, Europeans tattooed abroad, attracted great interest at exhibits, fairs, and circuses throughout Europe and the United States in the 18th and 19th centuries. As a sea-faring nation, the British had a powerful navy and a large merchant fleet. Many sailors chose to have tattoos as souvenirs of their travels to distant lands and this in turn led to the establishment of tattoo parlours in British ports. The Royal seal of approvalMany famous people in the past have been tattooed. For example, Edward VII when he was the Prince of Wales visited the Holy Land in 1862 and had the Jerusalem Cross tattooed on his arm. In later life he added yet more tattoos and encouraged his sons, the Duke of Clarence and the Duke of York (later KIng George V), to gain tattoos. When his sons visited Japan in 1882, Edward VII instructed their tutor to take them to the studio of the celebrated master Hori Chiyo who tattooed dragons on their arms. Following the example of the dukes, a great number of wealthy Britons and naval officers also acquired tattoos from Japanese masters. Nowadays, tattoos and body piercings adorn all manner of people, from footballers to solicitors and from actors to shop assistants. With tattoo studios in nearly every major town, you don't have to travel very far to acquire your body art, but it is only at an event like the Mantra Festival that you can meet so many top artists and see the exceptional quality of their work! |