A tattoo can symbolize a myriad of different ideas, ranging from a lost loved one, to a life changing vacation, from hard-earned achievements to dreams and aspirations and anything in between. For these reasons, tattoos are becoming more and more common in society.
Tattoos have been popular with aboriginal groups since before history began, in some places dating back over ten thousand years (Japan). These early examples of tattoos generally attempt to offer some form of protection in battle or in the afterlife. These also served as rights of passage and official identification to a particular group or tribe. Later in history tattoos came to the attention of the western world through sailors who would adorn their body with designs to protect them at sea and tell of their travels across the world. It is from this background that many contemporary tattoos come from.
The most obviously historically linked tattoos are 'tribal' tattoos. These consist of thick, black lines creating interlocking shapes and designs reminiscent of those seen on tribal warriors in many African and Polynesian locations. The benefits to these tattoos include that they are easy for the first timer to design and their naturally flowing shape lends them to prime tattoo real estate such as the shoulders and lower back. However these designs have been rehashed so many times that many tattoo aficionados feel they have been stripped of all connections to actual tribal groups.
Some native groups actually look at tribal tattoos on non-tribal individuals as a form of identity theft as these tattoos are used to describe whom an individual is and communicate a family history. The other large group of historically linked tattoos are those with nautical roots such as stars and swallows.Stars are a popular choice for a first tattoo as they can be made very small and typically are little more than an outline. The most 'classic' star type tattoo is the nautical star, a five-point star with each point split and one half filled in with black. Sailors would get these to ensure a safe journey while at sea and ensure a safe return. The reason behind this is in its early days, sailors relied heavily on the stars (especially the northern star) for navigation.
As previously mentioned, the swallow is another popular tattoo design. Sailors of antiquity again inspired these tattoos. While at sea, a swallow was typically the first sign that land was near. Additionally it is said that a swallow always finds its way home, again ensuring a safe return.
The irony with nautically inspired tattoos is that they started as signs of masculinity and risk, but contemporarily it is much more common to see a woman with a tattoo of a star or a bird than a man. ( By Ellen Kripp )
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