Tatau
Tatau
COM/150
March 7, 2010
Tatau
Tattoos have been used for thousands of years through many different forms as a way of representation. Throughout time, the choice to decorate ourselves with colorful and decorative markings of ink has grown in popularity through elaborate portraits of body art, along with permanent cosmetic make-up. The uses of tattoos have been traced as far back as 2000 b.c. in Egypt, which was found to be present in many Egyptian mummies. Other evidence would be that of a famous 5000-year-old well preserved corpse of “Otzi the ice man,” who was found near the Italian-Austrian border. Ancient Egyptians are those that have expanded the practice of tattoos to countries as far away as Japan, China, and the Greek regions. “Ta moko” is another popular form of body modification, which the Maori culture introduced from Eastern Polynesia. This is the same concept as a tattoo, only it carves the skin rather than punctures it. This leaves the skin with indented grooves rather than with smooth lines of a traditional tattoo. The descriptive word for “Tattoo” came from the ancient Polynesian word “tatau” (which means to tap). Pasefika (2010) stated “The foreigners from various European countries mispronounced and documented mispronounced words from Polynesia as they were originally spoken by native people. However with their documentation and usage it has led to the expansion of language.” (Meaning of Tatau 1: para. 5). The purposes of tattoos are different in every culture from the use of symbols to lettering and characters; whether elaborate or plain each tattoo holds a personal meaning that portrays their personal status, along with symbolisms of love and religious beliefs. In Egypt, the custom was for women to tattoo dots onto their upper thighs and torso. Lineberry (2007) stated, “During pregnancy, this specific pattern would expand in a protective fashion in the same way bead nets were placed over wrapped mummies to protect
COM/150
March 7, 2010
Tatau
Tattoos have been used for thousands of years through many different forms as a way of representation. Throughout time, the choice to decorate ourselves with colorful and decorative markings of ink has grown in popularity through elaborate portraits of body art, along with permanent cosmetic make-up. The uses of tattoos have been traced as far back as 2000 b.c. in Egypt, which was found to be present in many Egyptian mummies. Other evidence would be that of a famous 5000-year-old well preserved corpse of “Otzi the ice man,” who was found near the Italian-Austrian border. Ancient Egyptians are those that have expanded the practice of tattoos to countries as far away as Japan, China, and the Greek regions. “Ta moko” is another popular form of body modification, which the Maori culture introduced from Eastern Polynesia. This is the same concept as a tattoo, only it carves the skin rather than punctures it. This leaves the skin with indented grooves rather than with smooth lines of a traditional tattoo. The descriptive word for “Tattoo” came from the ancient Polynesian word “tatau” (which means to tap). Pasefika (2010) stated “The foreigners from various European countries mispronounced and documented mispronounced words from Polynesia as they were originally spoken by native people. However with their documentation and usage it has led to the expansion of language.” (Meaning of Tatau 1: para. 5). The purposes of tattoos are different in every culture from the use of symbols to lettering and characters; whether elaborate or plain each tattoo holds a personal meaning that portrays their personal status, along with symbolisms of love and religious beliefs. In Egypt, the custom was for women to tattoo dots onto their upper thighs and torso. Lineberry (2007) stated, “During pregnancy, this specific pattern would expand in a protective fashion in the same way bead nets were placed over wrapped mummies to protect
References: Lineberry, C. (January 2007). Tattoos - The Ancient and Mysterious History. Retrieved, February 16, 2010, from http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/tattoo.html?c=y&page=1# Preuss, S. (July 2009). Tribal Facial Tattoos from Around the World. Retrieved, February 16, 2010, from http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/featured/tribal-facial-tattoos-around-world/13690 Classic Ink & Mods. (n.d.), Tattoo History. Retrieved, February 16, 2010, from http://classicinkandmods.com/tattoo-info/ Mayo Clinic Staff (n.d.), Tattoos: Understand risks and precautions. Retrieved, February 16, 2010, from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tattoos-and-piercings/MC00020 Pasefika (n.d.). Meaning of Tatau 1. Retrieved, March 7, 2010, from http://www.pasefika.com/Culture/Article/19/sa/meaning-of-tatau-1 Vanishing Tattoo. (n.d.), Religious Tattoos and Symbols of Faith and Spirituality. Christian Tattoos. Retrieved, February 16, 2010, from http://www.vanishingtattoo.com/tattoos_designs_symbols_religious.htm