The tattoo has been around for thousands of years. The word tattoo comes from the Tahitian word ‘tattau’, which means to strike or hit. Tattoos have been used as status symbols, amulets, religious symbols, decoration, and punishment. The earliest tattoos were found on female mummies in Egypt. The mummies were believed to be from approximately 2000 B.C. However, there is evidence that women had tattoos even earlier from figurines that were believed to be made around 4000 B.C.

It appears that primarily women received tattoos in ancient Egypt. It was first believed that women with tattoos were of low status. However, these female mummies were found in an area where the elite and royalty were buried. It is possible that the designs were meant to be amulets during pregnancy and birth. For the most part, the tattoos are concentrated on the abdomen, thighs, and breasts. The deity Bes was often tattooed on women’s thighs. Bes was considered to be the protector of women during labor and birth.

Archaeologists discovered a sharp point that was set in a wooden handle in Egypt that is believed to have been used to make tattoos around 3000 B.C. Bronze instruments from 1450 B.C. that are thought to have been used as tattooing tools were also found. These tools were very similar to tattooing tools that were used in the 19th century.

In Egypt, a tattoo was primarily made of dotted patterns that consisted of diamond shapes and lines and, as mentioned above, small figures of the god Bes. In order to make the dots typically a dark pigment, such as ash or soot, was placed in the pricked skin. While Egyptian tattoos were usually dark, other cultures, such as the Inuit, used lighter colors along with darker pigments.

There are many other early cultures that used tattoos. The people of the Altai Mountain region marked their skin with ornate tribal tattoos. A male body was found in the ice in 1948. His arms, legs, and body were covered with tattoos of animals. In 1993, a woman’s body was found in a tomb in the Altai Mountains. She had a tattoo of a mythical animal on her shoulders and more tattoos on her wrists and thumb. It is believed that the tattoo was a mark of nobility. The culture of early Britain also used tattoos as a mark of status and royalty.

Among the Romans and Greeks, the tattoo was used mostly to mark someone as part of a religious sect or to part someone as a criminal. The use of tattoos spread through the Roman Empire until Christianity began to emerge. Tattoos were then considered a pagan practice that disfigured the body and were banned by Emperor Constantine.

Some Native American cultures, such as the Cree, used tattoos to mark their faces with delicate and detailed patterns. The Japanese began tattooing their skin with intricate designs at the end of the 3rd century. Polynesian cultures also used elaborate tattoos that featured geometric designs that often covered the entire body.

The Maori culture of New Zealand used elaborate facial tattoos to mark individuals of high status. Each design was unique to that individual and represented specific information, such as rank and skills that have been mastered. Warriors were given their tattoo in stages in order to correspond with various stages in their lives.

Modern tattoos are amazing works of art that use many different colors and span all cultures. The tattoo artists of Samoa create their tattoos as they did in ancient times, without modern equipment. Many modern African cultures also use tattoos, from the facial tattoos of the Wodabe to the fine dotted marks used by the Berber in Algeria.

Although the tattoo is used in many different cultures, for the most part, their use seems to have begun independently in each. Both ancient and modern cultures use tattoos for therapy, protection, fashion, to mark people from different groups or religions, or simply a form of self expression.

Dragon tattoos are one of the most popular choices for those considering body art. Dragons are part of myths in most cultures and are typically a symbol of power and danger. Dragons are a good choice for a tattoo because they are sinuous and fluid. They do not have sharp edges or corners and, therefore, can be drawn to contour to any part of the body.

Tattoos are not the only way that people have captured the image of the dragon. Vikings carved dragons onto the prow of their ships. They believed that dragons could grant them cunning and supernatural sight. Chinese emperors believed that dragons existed and that they were the sons of gods. The chair of the emperor was referred to as the dragon seat and his robes were called dragon robes.

Dragon tattoos are popular mainly because dragons have always been an object of curiosity and fascination. Another reason for the popularity of dragon tattoos lies in the success of movies and books like the ‘Lord of the Rings’ and ‘Eragon’ and games such as ‘Dungeons and Dragons.’

They can also symbolize many different ideas and emotions from luck and freedom to rage and destruction. Just as there are many types of dragons, there are also many types of dragon tattoos. These include, but are not limited to, medieval dragons, Celtic dragons, Asian-inspired dragons, and tribal dragons.

Just like dragons themselves, dragon tattoos can symbolize many different things. A dragon tattoo on a man usually symbolizes power or protection. Historically, men are considered the guardians of society and the family and dragons are often used to symbolize guardianship and wisdom. Dragon tattoos on women often signify women as the beginning of life. These tattoos also represent grace and reserved strength.

The popularity of these designs may seem recent but they have always been a popular subject for artists. When considering a depiction, there are many types of dragons to choose from. It is important to take the time to research the history and meaning of different types of dragons in order to make an informed choice.

Mesopotamian dragons symbolize knowledge and were depicted as guardians of great treasure. Sumerian dragons were cunning and devious. It was believed that Babylonian’s dragons helped create the world. The Chinese believe that their dragons are the true dragons and they are depicted with five claws. They have a rich history in Chinese culture and are a symbol of imperial strength and power. Japanese dragons have four claws instead of five. One of the most famous of the Japanese dragons is depicted as a caring husband and father.

In England, dragons were seen as destructive and dangerous and were often slain by heroes and knights in legends. Russian dragons are depicted with three heads and seven tails. African dragons are the rainbow-colored companion of the god, Nana-Buluku. This dragon is often depicted forming a circle around the earth with its tail in its mouth.

The internet is the perfect resource for finding a design for dragon tattoos. It is no longer necessary to visit a tattoo shop in order to choose your design. For the most part, there are three types of websites that offer images for tattoos. There are sites that offer free designs to look through, there are sites with subscription fees, and there are sites that charge for downloading a single design. It may be tempting to limit the search to the free sites but the quality of the designs and images can be substandard. Subscription sites often accept donated designs and may not be the best choice for high quality images. The third type of site, the type where you pay for each design, are typically the best way to find high quality images online. These sites will usually show the designs as a thumbnail image that can be browsed through for free. When the perfect design is found, a high quality image can be downloaded or printed for a fee.

Dragon tattoos are likely to remain one of the most popular designs in body art. The many types of dragons and the unique meaning of each make them appealing for many people for numerous reasons. They can be personalized and customized based upon color and style and can be made to contour to any part of the body.