Tattoos were also used as right of passages. In some cultures, getting a tattoo marked the transition from adolescents to adulthood. Some nomadic clans would believe that if a young boy could not handle the pain of getting a tattoo, then he would not be useful in battle. They also would not be considered strong enough to protect family members. Similarly, if a young girl could not handle the pain of getting a tattoo, she would not be able to handle the pain of childbirth. Without being able to handle the pain of childbirth, a girl would not be considered a worthy candidate for marriage. Clan members that did not receive tattoos as young children were outcasts ("Spirituality & Health Magazine", 2011). …show more content…
Tattoos that had ink composed of rare flowers were considered to have “magical powers”. These tattoos would draw a connection with the gods to help bring a person together with their soul mate. Tattoos in the Middle East that consisted of a person’s astrological symbol and a god of prosperity’s name was said to bring good fortune. Farmers usually had these kinds of tattoos so they could have good luck with the year’s harvest ("Medindia").
Tattoos were also used as funeral art. Some cultures believed that a person’s soul could not pass on to the afterlife peacefully if the body of that person was disturbed. To prevent a body from being disturbed, tattoos would be placed on the arms and legs of the body so evil entities would not be able to attack the soul. Some of these tattoos consisted of animals and gods that were said to protect the dead. The deceased and their family members would also get at least one matching tattoo. They would do this so they could still have a connection with each other ("Spirituality & Health Magazine",