African Tattoos Designs
In today's world the practice of getting tattoos is more a statement of expression and fashion than anything else, but in olden times, tattooing was all about identification, spirituality and medicinal purposes. African tattoo designs were commonly used as means to distinguish between members of different tribes, and even within a tribe, each hierarchal strata was easily recognizable by the African tattoos that they had inscribed on their bodies.
African tattoo designs and meanings were also used as protective measures against harmful spirits and apparitions, and African culture is steeped with a multitude of such tattoos. In the era before Christ, especially in Egypt, tattoos had a great significance in the culture and traditions of the people there. Today, African tattoos symbolically state a reverence to the heritage and history of these places, and more people invest in them simply because they look very attractive.
History of African Tattoo
The first evidence of African tattoo designs that has been discovered leads us to the mummies of ancient Egypt. These mummies were regularly inked with African tattoos as a symbol of their family's history, or to signify the achievements of that person in his life. Some African tattoo designs were also believed to offer protection to the mummified person in the afterlife. The oldest tattoo was found on the body of Amunet, who was a priestess of the Goddess Hathor during the years 2160 - 1994 BC. The most common African tattoo designs were parallel lines and intrinsic elliptical patterns on the arms, legs and the navel.
Most of the earliest evidence of African tattoo culture were found in women and it is believed that these signified fertility and rejuvenation in the lives of these women. Male bodies with tattoos were discovered in Libya, and these African tattoo designs dealt more with worship and offerings to various deities, especially the Sun.
Some African tattoo designs were also meant to distinguish warriors from other men, and the most commonly seen tattoos signifying this were those of Neith, a Goddess who supposedly led men into battle. This was popular around 1300 BC, and subsequently became more widespread. Another important aspect of African tattoo methods was a process known as 'Cicatrisation'.
In today's world the practice of getting tattoos is more a statement of expression and fashion than anything else, but in olden times, tattooing was all about identification, spirituality and medicinal purposes. African tattoo designs were commonly used as means to distinguish between members of different tribes, and even within a tribe, each hierarchal strata was easily recognizable by the African tattoos that they had inscribed on their bodies.
African tattoo designs and meanings were also used as protective measures against harmful spirits and apparitions, and African culture is steeped with a multitude of such tattoos. In the era before Christ, especially in Egypt, tattoos had a great significance in the culture and traditions of the people there. Today, African tattoos symbolically state a reverence to the heritage and history of these places, and more people invest in them simply because they look very attractive.
History of African Tattoo
The first evidence of African tattoo designs that has been discovered leads us to the mummies of ancient Egypt. These mummies were regularly inked with African tattoos as a symbol of their family's history, or to signify the achievements of that person in his life. Some African tattoo designs were also believed to offer protection to the mummified person in the afterlife. The oldest tattoo was found on the body of Amunet, who was a priestess of the Goddess Hathor during the years 2160 - 1994 BC. The most common African tattoo designs were parallel lines and intrinsic elliptical patterns on the arms, legs and the navel.
Most of the earliest evidence of African tattoo culture were found in women and it is believed that these signified fertility and rejuvenation in the lives of these women. Male bodies with tattoos were discovered in Libya, and these African tattoo designs dealt more with worship and offerings to various deities, especially the Sun.
Some African tattoo designs were also meant to distinguish warriors from other men, and the most commonly seen tattoos signifying this were those of Neith, a Goddess who supposedly led men into battle. This was popular around 1300 BC, and subsequently became more widespread. Another important aspect of African tattoo methods was a process known as 'Cicatrisation'.
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