Since Polynesia is such a large collection of islands, it’s unsurprising that the symbolism expressed by these tattoos was not unique to every location within the Polynesian Triangle. #Japanese woman in tribal body paint manualFor instance, Polynesian tattoos on shoulders and arms relate to strength and bravery, on the forearms and hands – creativity and manual skill, and on the chest – honor and sincerity. Animals are also a common theme – particularly turtles, lizards, and stingrays.Īs well as having a specific meaning conveyed through this use of symbols, the tattoo’s significance is also expressed through placement. #Japanese woman in tribal body paint seriesTattooing was considered a sacred practice and involved a series of rituals – only after completing these was an individual permitted to get a tattoo.Ĭommon elements in Polynesian tribal tattoos include shark teeth, ocean waves, spearheads, and the enata – a Polynesian tribal symbol for the human figure. Like in the case of most tribal tattooing, Polynesian tattoos were marks of adulthood and of particular achievements, usually related to war, battles, courage, and strength. The tattoo tradition in Polynesia reaches back at least two thousand years. Polynesia is the collection of over one thousand islands falling into the Polynesian Triangle – the area between Hawaii, New Zealand, and Easter Island. Tribal tattoo designs originating in Polynesian cultures are perhaps the most popular choice nowadays. Modern tribal-inspired tattoo designs are based on much later tribes, though – ones whose cultures, mythologies, and symbolisms are known today and relatively well-understood. #Japanese woman in tribal body paint skinThe pigment used for staining Ötzi’s skin came from soot.Īlthough the oldest, Ötzi’s not the only example of tattooed mummies – other ones have been discovered as far apart as Alaska, Mongolia, Egypt, China, Sudan, and the Philippines. Not much is known about the method in which these tattoos were applied, but it has been suggested that they may have been related to pain relief practices. Ötzi’s had a total of 61 (!!) tattoos, which consisted of 19 groups of black lines. Ötzi the Iceman was uncovered in 1991 in the Ötztal Alps – a mountain range spanning across southern Austria and northern Italy – and bore tribal tattoos on his skin. In fact, Europe’s oldest known human mummy is also the earliest example of tattooing on human skin. The earliest example of an actual tattoo that has been uncovered so far dates back to sometime around 3200 BC. To say that tribal tattoos have a long history would be an understatement – we’re talking about at least five thousand years’ worth of history.Īccording to evidence discovered by archaeologists, tattoos have been practiced by various tribal groups around the world since the Neolithic times at least. While they’ve retained their visual appeal, they’re also imbued with hidden meaning. Nowadays, tribal tattoo designs are usually much more intricate and sophisticated than twenty or thirty years ago, and most often inspired by the original meanings and symbolism of their culture of origin. The decorative ‘tribal’ tattoos of the 90s have gradually been replaced with tribal art that is a reference to a particular tribe or culture. Tribal tattoos of today are something of a throwback to the traditional tribal art of these tribes. The other meaning of the phrase ‘tribal tattoos’ is based more in history than in contemporary tattoo styles.Īncient tribes and civilizations used distinctive tattoos to communicate the status and achievements of individual members to the rest of the group and to distinguish themselves from other tribes. Generally, these were purely decorative – not symbolic of anything in particular. These would be entirely abstract or arranged to resemble a shape – often dragons or birds. These are the patterns composed of interlocking black spiky lines, thicker in the middle and tapering to a point on both ends. The first is the generic tribal tattoo style, particularly popular during the late 80s and throughout the 90s. When thinking about tribal tattoos, for most people two things come to mind. Their enigmatic appearance, together with the visual appeal of the symmetry and intricacy involved in the designs, make them one of the most popular choices in today’s tattoo art. Tribal tattoos are just as mysterious as the ancient cultures that inspire them.
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