Aztec Tattoos

People today choose to have tattoos for various diverse factors. Some are purely decorative a basic physical enhancement. Some send a message, or represent the owner's views about a specific subject matter or perfect. Nonetheless other people get tattoos to display affiliation to some particular clan, unit or tribe.

Aztec tattoo styles originate through the ancient & noble Aztec culture, which existed in central Mexico around the 14th century. The Aztecs were deeply religious, and their society was highly organized, consisting of priests, nobles, warriors, peasants and slaves. They were scientists and philosophers, and it is only very recently that scholars have begun to understand their intricate pictographic language. They were both enlightened and barbaric, and their records display remarkable achievements in mathematics and philosophy, while at the same time indulging in the horror of human sacrifice at the altars to their gods.

Aztec Tattoos generally imitate either their remarkable written language, or their distinctive style of art. Because of their reverance for the sun, countless tattoos portray this as a central element, with other themes important to the Aztecs (such as the jaguar) adding to the overall image. With much attention in the media on the deciphering of Aztec records, these tattoos are becoming increasingly popular, and are generally recognized by consumers who see them (albeit sometimes mistakenly identified as Mayan or Inca).

It is this combination of both beauty and mystery that persons discover attractive about Aztec Tattoos. Although much progress is being made in modern times to shed light on the Aztecs and translate the mountain of written records which they left behind, there is much that we do not know about this enigmatic culture. Getting an Aztec tattoo enables the owner to capitalize on this - beauty, mystery, knowledge, savagery - wrapping all of this up into one distinctive tattoo is really remarkable!

Of course, you'll find individuals who prefer to obtain an Aztec Tattoos simply because they are visually distinctive and relatively rare. They have appeal with both males & females and can be inked in any size - from tiny motifs on the shoulder or ankle to extravagant murals on the back or chest. These tattoos are commonly blended with other genres, especially tribal varieties. Conversely, Aztec styles are often applied to more traditional tattoos, such as birds or other animals - especially predatory hunters!

So, if you are looking for that ideal, distinctive tattoo that is both enigmatic and visually stunning, with perhaps the slightest taint of its dark past, then the Aztec Tattoos is definitely for you! It will amaze your friends, provoke conversation - and add a mystery to your personality that you are going to absolutely adore!

Polynesian Tattoos

Polynesian tattoos are an ancient art that has been receiving a lot of attention in modern times. Though few of us who are not from the Polynesian islands would be willing to undergo the painful and lengthy procedure that real Polynesian tattoos necessitate, we might well be attracted to elements of the traditional tribal designs and wish to incorporate them into our own tattoos – using modern methods (most of us anyway).

Hawaiian face tattoo

The people of the Polynesian islands have evolved their own distinct culture over hundreds, even thousands of years. Though there are many islands in this area, the people all came from a common homeland – though no one is exactly sure where this might have been, or when they came or how.

Polynesia is a group of islands spread over the Pacific Ocean (over 1000; Polynesia is the Greek word for many islands). The Marquesa islands are probably where the Polynesian people came to first and they later spread to:

* New Zealand: Aotearoa (Maori for NZ) is where the Maori people live. Tattoo art or Ta Moko as they call it, is a very important aspect of their culture. Discover all about Maori Tattoos here

* Hawaii: Hawaiian tattoo designs are distinct from other Polynesian tattoos in that sense that they have a more personal meaning. Popular today are Hawaiian flowers, turtles and abstract tribals.

Hawaiian tattoos

* Easter Island (Rapa Nui): the tattoo designs of the inhabitants of the Easter Island have a huge variety: stylized boats, vaginas, spears, birds, geometrical patterns, .... Women and men had a combination of bold lines and dots on their forehead, from one ear to the other. The tattoos made their skin sacred and enabled them to communicate with the gods.

* Samoa: Samoan tattoos are generally very large and denote the social status and rank of the man or woman who wears it.

* Tonga: the Tongan tattoo is similar to the Samoan tattoo.

* The Cook Islands: the tattoo designs of the Cook Islands were spread over the entire body. Each tribe had its own tattoo sign.

* French Polynesia (Tahiti): traditionally, only people of a high social ranking had tattoos. Tahitian tattoos covered the whole body, except the face. Women as well as men were tattooed. The women were tattooed at a very young age. Later they are tattooed again when they reach sexual maturity. When they desired a man, they would show their tattoos by lifting their skirts.

* The Marquesa Islands: a group of islands in French Polynesia with a deeply rooted tattoo tradition. The people of the Marquesa islands were the most heavily tattooed of all the Polynesian tribes.

* Several other islands which now house distinct ethnic groups.

Though they are distinct, a lot of cultural similarities remain. For example, practically all of these people practice the art of tattooing, and they do so in startlingly similar ways. Tattoo art was very important in the Polynesian culture. Because they had no written language, tattoos were used to depict social status, family history and spirituality.

The Motives For Polynesian Tattoos

Here are some of the reasons the Polynesian people had tattoos:

* The tattoos were a symbol of courage. The tattoo process was very painful and a lot of perseverance was needed to endure the long tattoo sessions.

* Getting the first tattoo marks the transition between childhood and adulthood. It is a rite of passage.

* Tattoos added to the sexual attractiveness of a man.

* Tattoos offered protection, they were a talisman.

* Polynesian tattoos read like a book. By looking at a tattoo, insiders get to know the social status and rank of the tattooed person.

Polynesian tattoos

Polynesian tattoos

Polynesian tattoos

Polynesian tattoos

Aztec Tattoo designs

Aztec Tattoo

designed from the Aztec calendar by a friend.More aztec tattoos