What Cultural Tattoos Teach Us About Strength

INTRODUCTION Tattoos have been an integral form of human expression for thousands of years, puncturing the skin with vivid pigments to tell stories, mark rites of passage, display status, or honor ancient deities. Yet across cultures, they often symbolize the same timeless virtue: Strength. Strength in battle, against adversity, in the face of fear, and within one's self. But what can the tattoos of our ancestors teach us about this concept? As it turns out, a great deal. From ancient shamans in Siberia, fierce Celtic warriors, to the majestic tattooed women of Polynesia, these murals of the flesh encode profound insights into strength’s manifestation in different cultures. ORIGIN AND CULTURAL CONTEXT Our journey begins in Siberia, with the ancient Pazyryk people, nomads who roamed the steppes in 5th-century BC. The incredible archaeological find of the 'Siberian Ice Maiden' preserved a wealth of their tattoo art unveiling power animals and mythical creatures that were believed to protect and imbue strength. Next, we sail to the Isle of the Mighty. Here, the Celts bore tattoos as a testament to their strength, courage and connection to the divine. Sublime spirals, knots, and intricate animal forms covered their bodies, reflecting the Celtic belief in the cyclical nature of life and the sacred strength derived from it. Further into the deep blue, we find the Polynesian people for whom tattooing was a rite of passage that conveyed social status, personal identity, and spiritual protection. The scars left by traditional 'tatau’ techniques, such as herds of turtles inked across women's thighs, each represented unique strength - proof of surviving the painful ritual and totemic protection from deities. THE LEGEND OR STORY Our legends and stories take several forms, neatly etched in ink upon flesh. Among the Pazyryk, the Ice Maiden's tattoos told tales of mythical beasts and divine warriors, symbolizing strength and protection in the afterlife. In reality, there perhaps exists no more powerful nor more vulnerable time which demands strength. In the Celtic realm, the tale of Cú Chulainn, the mighty hound-warrior, is often associated with the triskelion tattoo –a three-legged spiral– representing his enrapturing 'warp-spasm' that rendered him an unbeatable foe. It is a binding symbol of the warrior’s unyielding strength and the divine, almost supernatural, strength provided by the gods themselves. Polynesian legend tells of the love-struck young maiden who seduced the sun-god with her exotic tattoos, effectively slowing the sun’s course across the sky. Her tattoos were both the testimonial of her strength to undergo the painful tattooing process and a rite of passage empowering her divine manipulation. INTERPRETATIONS AND SYMBOLISM For the Pazyryk, every etch on the skin was a metaphysical journey of strength, an external representation of the strength within - empowering the wearer from within, in this life and the next. Similarly, for the Celtic warrior, their warlike tattoos were not just for intimidation but represented a spiritual prowess, connecting them to divine strength. Polynesian tattoos interpreted strength through their spiritual and societal constructs. The more intricate the tattoo, the more painful the process, signifying the wearer's power of endurance. Also, the chosen symbols invoked the strength of the gods, offering protection, guidance, and power, binding the spiritual and physical realms. COMPARISONS IN OTHER CULTURES Across the globe in North America, Native American tattooing existed long before the arrival of Europeans. Holding strong symbolic power, they marked war exploits, hunting sagas, healing rites and spiritual power, echoing the universal truth about individual and collective strength. Yet again, in Japan, the Yakuza's irezumi tattoos symbolize strength, telling stories of Samurai warriors, fierce dragons and koi fish, traversing tumultuous waters, symbolizing resilience, perseverance, and power to overcome adversity. MODERN REFERENCES AND POP CULTURE Today, cultural tattoos inextricably link us to the ancient world. They remain symbols of strength just as they did for our forebears though they have arguably become more aesthetic than spiritual. Maori ‘moko’ tattoos have been globally recognized thanks to famed rugby team, All Blacks, performing the ‘Haka’; Rihanna famously sports a Polynesian hand tattoo, and Celtic symbols have entered mainstream tattoo parlours worldwide as revered icons of strength. LEGACY AND LASTING MYSTERIES Thus, the artform of tattoos provides a fascinating vista into our shared human story, telling us about strength’s intrinsic place in our lives and societies. Yet, so many mysteries remain - tattoos lost to time, symbols forgotten, meanings obscured by modern interpretation. However, one thing is constant - strength. Strength is eternally etched, not just on skin, but in the annals of human history, a testimony of our unending struggle, resilience, and victory over adversity. As we uncover more about these ancient etchings, we learn more about our shared human heritage, a veritable canvas of strength and survival - a true testament to the indomitable spirit of humanity.