Tattooing has long been seen as a form of body art, as well as a form of mutilation — depending upon your point of view. In the ancient world, tattooing was a common practice. The reasons why a person allowed themselves to be tattooed varied. Many did so for its artistic value, while others did so in order to commemorate an important event or to honor their particular deity. As well, whole groups often tattooed themselves with similar symbols in order to show their group identity. Tattoos where also seen as a permanent talisman that could protect the wearer from evil or give them strength. In some cultures, tattoos were also used as a form of medicine. For example, in some cultures it was thought that tattooing sore joints might ease the pain of arthritis.
Tattoos are a very transient form of art. Once the canvas, (i.e., the human), dies, the artwork is often destroyed by burial or cremation. On rare occasions, the skin will be preserved either through mummification or by being frozen, as was the Tyrolean “Ice Man”. Without the ability to study the actual tattoos, it can be difficult for historians to discern if, and how, a culture practiced the art of tattooing. For historians, the main source of information on tattoos is written records and drawings. The Roman record primarily talks about how tattooing was practiced in other cultures and how the Romans came to associate the practice of tattooing as a barbarian trait. Consequently, it was deemed unseemly for a Roman to sport a tattoo. Therefore, the Romans primarily used tattoos to mark slaves and condemned criminals.
This does not mean that ordinary Romans did not tattoo themselves. Many often did, especially during their military service. However once they began to move up in the ranks they often found it wise to consult the services of a physician to have their tattoos removed. By virtue the written records that the Romans left behind, it appears that there was a booming business in tattoo removal, which conversely, attests to the fact that Roman citizens did indeed get tattoos — no matter how ‘barbarian’ the practice was considered.
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Author: Rochelle Caviness
Keywords: Number of the beast, Mark of the Beast, 666, marks, Branding, Tattoos, Tattoo
Bible reference(s): Exodus 13:16, Leviticus 19:28, Ezekiel 9:4, Revelation 13:16
Source: Rochelle Caviness
Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.