Tattoo

[Michael Kerr]

Although not ancient this is a description of the tattooing process from a 17th Century traveller Jean de Thévenot  who was visiting Jerusalem, apparently they had wooden moulds for Christian symbols which were tattooed onto pilgrims, doesn't mention any freehand tattooing which would probably been used in Central Asia but a far cry from modern tattoo shops where you get your grandkids names tattooed on your arm .

Of the manner of marking what one wishes on the arm. We passed the whole of Monday, the 29th of April, having our arms marked, as all the pilgrims usually do: the operation is performed by Christians of Bethlehem belonging to the Latin rite. They have several wooden moulds, among which you choose those you like the best. Next they fill them with charcoal powder. Then they apply them to you in such a way as to leave the mark of what is engraved on them. After that they take your arm by their left hand, stretching the skin tight; in their right hand they have a little stick with two needles, and they dip it from time to time in ink mixed with ox-gall, and prick you with it along the lines made by the wooden mould; that is presumably harmful, and as a rule there ensues a slight fever which lasts a very short time, and the arm remains swollen to three times its normal size for two or three days. After they have pricked all along these lines, they wash the arm and check to see if there is some fault, whereupon they begin again, and sometimes they resume as many as three times. When they have finished, they bandage your arm up very tight, and a scab forms which falls off two or three days later, and the marks remain in blue and never fade.  

 PS. In regard to Pazyryk mummies and the man with the fish tattooed on his right leg. I wonder what the fish symbolized? A god perhaps.
   

Regards
Michael Kerr