Like facial makeup and perfume Egyptians also have a great history of tattoos as well. Ancient Egyptians used to paint their bodies with wonderful tattoo designs and had all kinds of different, unique designs they would tattoo on their bodies from their face to their feet. They also used different colors for making these designs, extracting the color from natural elements.
In ancient Egypt tattoos had a huge significance and many different meanings. For some it was a symbol that represented their social group and community, for some it was a sign that depicted what they believed, for some it was meant to make their body even more beautiful and attractive. It was indeed a world where tattoos had many different meanings and significance depended on who you were and why you had them.
The Evidence Of Ancient Egyptian Tattoos
Almost all mummies belonging to the period around 2000 B.C. were found to have had tattoos on their body. These were comprised of different designs which were quite historical and mysterious that clearly showed the presence of tattoos during ancient Egyptian times.
The Meaning Of The Tattoos
Despite the evidence on the mummies of tattoos there was still confusion regarding how the tattoos were done and what they meant. Later, researchers showed that all these tattoos were usually found on female bodies moreso than male. Several geometric decorations and representations taken from the Middle Egyptian Kingdom were found to represent women’s status particularly during that time.
The History Behind Decorated Fingers
Although some details are still under debate, it is believed that tattoo-decorated fingers belonged to the mummies who were associated with music and dancing inancient Egypt. This was made clear when one of the female mummies at Deir el-Bahari was thought to be the priestess of the goddess Hathor, who was a well-established patron of music and dance.
Tattoos And Social Status
Apart from specific jobs like musician and dancer, tattoos also representedsocial groups in ancient Egypt. Different groups and communities had different tattoo designs in ancient Egypt and designs were based on the faith and beliefs of the particular social groups. For example: A tattoo was found of a monogram with a cross on its top. This tattoo depicted a woman with Christian beliefs. This tattoo also indicated that the woman hoped to place herself under the protection of an archangel who was a patron saint of Nubia in older times.
