TATTOOS

Getting a tattoo can be a big decision for some people. Either you like them or you don't want. Do you want something on your body that you'll never be able to take off, except with surgery? Something you may like now but may not seem so tasteful in 25 years?

Tattooing began centuries ago. It has always been a form of expression in one way or another. In some cultures, tattooing was done for prestige or rank. It was sacred and respectful. Only the most respected were allowed to adorn their bodies in such a way.

The word tattoo comes from the Tahitian " tatu" which means to mark something. The purpose of tattooing varies from culture to culture but there are some similarities that have prevailed from the earliest tattoos to those on present-day rock stars. Tattoos have always been a part of ritual and tradition. In Borneo, women tattooed their forearms to show their particular skill. Tattoos around the wrist and fingers were used to ward off illness. Tattoos have always indicated a membership in a particular group like a tribe or Hell's Angels.

The earliest tattoos can be found in ancient Egypt. As the Egyptian empire grew, so did tattooing. The civilizations of Crete, Greece and Persia soon picked up the art of form. Around 2000 B.C. the art form was introduced in China. The Greeks used tattooing for communication among spies. People in Eastern Asia used it for social status. In Japan, criminals were marked with tattoos. First offenders were marked with a line across the forehead. Second offenders had an arc placed above these lines.

The history of tattoo can certainly be an interesting study for someone. However, most people would prefer to study them than to see one on their body.