attoos Throughout History

Tattoos have been a part of society for thousands of years, having their place in the traditions and rituals of many cultures. Some ancient cultures used them as a way to signify their skills, while others employed them in ritualistic practices to ward off sickness. Many used them to mark the tribe or family they were born from. The practice of applying body art has continued down to this day. This article will discuss a few interesting snippets of the history of tattoos.

Egypt is where the first confirmed tattoos came from, although it's certainly possible that they appeared earlier elsewhere in the historical timeline. In Egypt, they were often used to distinguish individuals as slaves or other titles considered low-class. At about 2,000 B.C.E, tattoos could be found in Greece and Asia. In Greece, tattoos were often worn as a mark of belonging, to ascribe to an individual that he belonged to a slave owner or sect, or to publicly show that a man had a criminal past. The citizens of Japan adopted tattoos a little later, where they had ceremonial uses. Although the popularity of tattoos rose during these times, the more primitive health practices made for a higher risk of tattoos becoming infected.

Western cultures have also embraced tattoos even though they were thought of as taboo initially. William Dampier reintroduced tattoos to western society. In 1961 he greatly increased the awareness behind tattoos by showing off "The Painted Prince" Jeoly, who had many elaborate tattoos. They exhibited his body art to the public for display. Afterward, tattoos became very popular, especially in and around London, where there hadn't been noticed for several centuries.

Chatham Square, New York is recognized as being one of the first places to feature American style tattoos. Samuel O'Reily started a tattoo business there in 1865, and it proved to be quite popular. Many people from around the country would come to visit O'Reily's shop. He credited with inventing the electric tattoo gun which was taken from an invention by Thomas Edison, the electric pen, which used needle point to puncture paper. The electric gun revolutionized tattoo application. The gun made getting tattoos easier because the application took less time and also made getting tattoos more affordable.

The tattoo practices of many cultures seem to have developed independently, used in ways such as ritualistic and medicinal application, marking class or heritage, or simply as a way to express individuality. The popularity of tattoos skyrocketed in the late 60s and they have remained a visibly popular part of many cultures to this day. It's estimated that nearly half of the U.S population has or has had at least one tattoo. The practice of using them to mark belonging endures to this day in the form of biker clans and family crests.