Collective gallery
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"Ethnographic and historical texts reveal that tattooing has been practiced by just about every human culture in historic times.
The ancient Greeks used tattoos from the 5th century on to communicate among spies; later, the Romans marked criminals and slaves with tattoos.
In Japan, criminals were tattooed with a single line across their forehead for a first offence; for the second offence an arch was added, and finally, for the third offence, another line was tattooed which completed the symbol for “dog”: The original three strikes and you’re out!
📍Japan
The majority of designs in yakuza tattoos focus on Japanese mythology and history. Dragons and koi fish often appear in yakuza tattoos as symbols of wealth and prosperity.
Samurai warriors represent honor and a moral code, while geisha stand as symbols of fertility, good fortune and tradition. Other traditional Japanese designs that feature in yakuza tattoos are lotus flowers and cherry blossoms, tigers and elemental symbols.🖤
illustration by - Priska Demetria
📍North Africa, Morocco
Photo: Unknown Bride from Imiclhil, Morocco
📍Chin, Myanmar
Photo: Sabrina Nicolazzi https://www.instagram.com/magbrinik/
📍New York, USA
Photo: Dominique Misrahi. https://www.instagram.com/dominique_nyc/
📍India
Photo: Happy Mukherjee https://www.instagram.com/happy.mukherjee/
Evidence suggests that the Maya, Inca and Aztec used tattooing in rituals, and that the early Britons used tattoos in certain ceremonies.
The Danes, Norse and Saxons are known to have tattooed family crests onto their bodies.
During the crusades, some Europeans tattooed a cross on their hands or arms to mark their participation and indicate their desire for a Christian burial should they not return..." Read More: