Tribal Tattoos

Most of the designs we call

tribal tattoos are from the

South Pacific Polynesian. 

They were originally brought

home by sailors who visited

these islands.

They are usually black with

the black being the tattooed

portion and the skin making the space in between the linear or more

commonly spiralling designs.

Originally they told the story of a person and the deeds he (or he

and his family) had accomplished. 

In the Philippines the natives were

headhunters and a tattoo would be given

when a young man had gotten his first head.

Usually all over his upper torso. 

In Somoa they were indications of rank in the

tribe.  These were full bodied tattoos and took

a long time to complete.  In addition to this

they were very painful.  If a young man was

unwilling to complete the tattoo because of the pain it brought great

dishonor to him and his family.

Young women were also tattooed to add to their beauty and as a rite

of passage into adulthood.  In some areas the young women who

couldn't stand the tattooing would be considered unable to

withstand childbirth and wouldn't be very valuable as a wife.

All of these tattoos were done using very crude instruments and the

risk of infection and death was high.  The black was generally made

from ash from the fire pits.  Nevertheless, not going through the

tattooing process would leave the man labeled a coward and the

woman unworthy.  This was completely unacceptable.

It is important to remember that most tribal art was done in black

as few other colors were available to the them.  

Now almost any black geometric shape will pass as tribal art.  This

art usually has no meaning other than the one in the tattooed

persons head.

The geometric designs are quite beautiful and it is speculated by

many that the person seeking tribal tattoos is attempting to belong

to a tribe of their own.

Below are a few examples of modern tribal tattoos.

Tribal tattoos, like most other tats, mean what the wearer says they

mean.

 Tribal Tattoos to tattoo-body-art.com