The Significance of Medieval Tattoos Symbolism and Meanings of Medieval Tattoos Techniques and Tools

Medieval tattoos were more than just decorative body art. They held deep cultural and symbolic significance, representing everything from social status to spiritual beliefs. In this article, we will explore the origins, symbolism, techniques, and cultural impact of medieval tattoos.

[@kilipaki87oritahiti]

As someone who’s indigenous and who grew up in Norway, tho born in the Philipinnes, I can say that the Vikings didn’t tattoo. Or at least no physical evidence of them tattooing or having tattoos. Only a witness account by an Arab traveler. And we are also not taught that in Norwegian schools either as it’s not important enough. In stark contrast to that, in the PI it’s very different. Though the majority wouldn't know due to 500+ years of colonialism, and a colonial mentality thanks to religious brainwash... we also have material proof like mummies, pottery, 1st hand witness accounts thanks to Spanish manuscripts and even though the 4000 years old practice was basically banished and destroyed, a few remote tribes managed to keep the ancient practice alive. Now there's a huge revival going on as well as more and more people decolonizing their minds, heal from generational historical trauma, and take back their ancestral markings. All indigenous cultures/people world wide had a form of tattooing. And it wasn’t simply art, but sacred medicine, amulets, rights of passage, and an identity marker.

[@scallopohare9431]

And every tool and technology used for this derives from European culture.