Thursday, September 17, 2009

Tattoos a Symbol of Rank

There are so many uses and symbolism a Tattoo can do to a one person. It may show one's personality, show its love, show its passion and so on. But this post will discuss how a tattoo can be a symbol of rank.

During the early days of history, tattoo are used to symbolize ones rank in a group or a society. Just like for example the Maoris. A man or a woman's tattoo could not only identify their paternal and maternal lineage, but because Maori ‘ta moko’ was an ongoing practice, it also often revealed an individual’s political, social and military rank.

During the Early Roman historical references often noted that members of the "barbarian" nobility classes often displayed tattoos that signified their rank and family crests.