egyptian tattoos ideas

Egyptian tattoos

Egyptian tattoos have been used as a form of marking for both humans and gods since as long as can be remembered. These tattoos might depict what a person or a god looks like, commemorate a person or a god, or be a kind of memorial.

TATTOO

Egyptian tattoos are beautiful representations of power and prestige. They speak to days of old when pharaohs ruled the land and gods and goddesses were put on high pedestals. It was a different age but the markings have followed people through the generations. Egyptian tattoos are still popular among many people. This type of genre in tattoo is fascinating because it mixes the ancient day with adventure and mystery that many of us don’t know or understand. It’s become more and more popular in this day and age. As you’ll discover, there are so many different symbols and imagery associated with this genre. It’s bold and adventuresome and commands respect. The ancient Egyptians put a lot of time and equity in their gods and many of the tattoos you’ll see today are of these ancient gods.

The most popular placement is on the shoulder, chest and back. This is due in part that a lot of the images are quite large and the vast expanse of the entire canvas is needed. You will see from time to time the smaller images and they are often discreetly and uniquely placed on shoulders, feet, wrists and necks. This is often the female version of an Egyptian tattoo. This genre is easy to place behind the ear, on the neck, feet and hands because of the hieroglyphs. It gives off mysterious allure and is ideal for a starter tattoo. (Source: www.tattooeasily.com)

DESIGN

These tattoos are thought to have been worn by a priestess to honor Hathor who, among her many duties, was also goddess of fertility. They were worn by other women as symbolic protection of a child in the womb and during child birth (although these are not mutually exclusive since priestesses could marry and have children). It has been noted that, as a woman's pregnancy developed and the belly swelled, the tattoos would have formed an intricate net design from one's lower back to just below one's navel, thus creating a distinctive protective barrier between the world and the unborn child. The protective aspect of the tattoo is further suggested by the figure of the protector-god Bes which women had tattooed on their inner thigh. Joann Fletcher notes:

This is supported by the pattern of distribution, largely around the abdomen, on top of the thighs and the breasts, and would also explain the specific types of designs, in particular the net-like distribution of dots applied over the abdomen. During pregnancy, this specific pattern would expand in a protective fashion in the same way bead nets were placed over wrapped mummies to protect them and "keep everything in." The placing of small figures of the household deity Bes at the tops of their thighs would again suggest the use of tattoos as a means of safeguarding the actual birth, since Bes was the protector of women in labor, and his position at the tops of the thighs a suitable location. This would ultimately explain tattoos as a purely female custom. (1) (Source: www.worldhistory.org)