Egyptian Tattoos

Egypt is widely recognized as the cradle of all tattoo art. The earliest documented tattoo was discovered in 2160 BC on an Egyptian mummy, later identified as Amunet, a priestess to the God Hathor. Discovered in Thebes, Amunet’s preserved remains showed several ornate lines and dots scattered around her abdomen, across her arms, and on tops of the thighs. Evidence thus far seems to show that tattooing was an exclusively female practice in ancient Egypt, and scientists are still at a loss for an explanation. Some experts believe that tattooing was a form of therapy, a permanent amulet, to protect women from trying times like pregnancy and birth.

The main source of Egyptian tattoo art’s magnetism to tattoo aficionados today is its remarkable array of gods, goddess, and mythological figures. Some articles list that some of the leading reasons why people get tattoos are: to connect with the Divine; to offer homage to or sacrifice to a deity; and to serve as a permanent talisman or amulet for protection against evils. For people who have one of the reasons mentioned, the magnificent mythology found Egyptian tattoo art makes it the perfect portfolio to choose from.

Ancient Egypt’s obsession with the afterlife has created a vast collection of mythological figures that have been transformed into some of the most popular tattoos today. The ankh, arguably the most sought after Egyptian tattoo designs, is the symbol of the afterlife. Other mythological figures also pull people’s interest and fascination because of their poignant symbolism. The phoenix, a black bird capable of rising out of its own ashes to a new life, serves as the symbol for rebirth. The sphinx, a lion with a human and very similar to the Celtic griffon, is associated with the protection of a royal dignitary. The scarab beetle, on the other hand, denotes resurrection and good luck.

The gods and goddesses are also widely popular as subjects of tattoo designs. Some of the most fashionable tattoo designs feature Amun Ra, the supreme god in Egyptian mythology; Anubis, the dog-headed god of the afterlife; Osiris, the god of the dead and the underworld depicted as a mummified man dressed in white; Isis, goddess of fertility and protection illustrated as a woman with a headdress in the shape of a temple; and Horus, portrayed as a man with the head of a hawk. The “Eye of Horus”, sometimes referred to as the “All-Seeing Eye”, is a single piercing eyeball, and is one of the most popular Egyptian tattoos.

One of the greatest ironies in the tattooing industry is that while ancient Egyptian tattoo art is all the rage in the West and other parts of the globe, modern Egyptians, whose ancestors are credited as the pioneers in tattoo art, cringe from anything related to tattoos. Most if not all of present-day Egyptians do not wear tattoos because their religion, Islam, which forbids tampering of any kind with the human body.

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