The meaning of tattoos has changed over time. This is the assertion of Dr. Ivan Grinko, a historian and head of the research team at Moscow Pedagogical University, Russia. The oldest tattoos discovered by mankind date back 5 thousand years. Body drawings turned out to be illegal, or, on the contrary, became a badge of honor, when decorating the bodies of emperors and prisoners. Therefore, it is interesting to learn about the transformation of the meaning of tattoos, from a cult act to a tool of psychological support.
Tattoos are poorly preserved in paleoanthropological material, so it is impossible to say exactly when they began. There are isolated finds from which we can trace the history of tattoos. The classic example of tattoos is the famous “Iceman”, found in the early 1990s in the Alps, with designs that archaeologists claim are about 5,300 years old.
It is difficult to know the meaning of ancient tattoos. Scientists believe that the drawings were for ritual or medicinal purposes. For example, the Iceman was diagnosed with arthritis, and the drawings were placed around the areas of his body where he felt the most pain. According to historian Dr. Ivan Grinko, the tattoos were designed to alleviate pain.
Sharpened animal bones were most often used to make tattoos. Natural dyes were applied to them, mixing them with the ashes of deceased relatives. Pagan Slavs used crushed wood ash, Polynesians used charcoal, and other peoples used henna and soot.
Since the 18th century, tattoos have become popular in the civilized world. Europeans began to get acquainted with the tattoo culture of other countries. Tattoos were applied to the body by European sailors, soldiers and even royalty – the kings of Great Britain George V and Edward VII and even the Russian Tsar Nicholas II, who during his trip to Japan had a dragon tattooed on his arm.
The meaning of tattoos on the human body is closely related to evolutionary logic. Archaeologists have noted that ancient tattoos closely resemble the tail of a peacock. From an evolutionary perspective, peacocks no longer need their tails, as maintaining them is difficult and dangerous. On the other hand, the disability theory argues that the peacock’s tail represents vitality and indicates a promising genotype in terms of reproduction.
Peoples living on the territory of modern Russia often considered tattoos on the body as amulets. In general, among most ancient peoples, tattooing was associated with initiation, a rite of passage into puberty, a transition to a new stage.
