Ancient Egyptians and their tattoos

New analysis of two ancient Egyptian mummies have revealed what was once thought to be smudges are actually tattoos.

First found in the year 1900, the mummies were recently reanalysed by the British Museum as part of an ongoing project to re-examine valuable artefacts.

The mummies, one male and one female, date from around five and a half thousand years ago, roughly the same time as our old friend Ötzi the Ice Man, who we have talked about before. This makes them some of the earliest known bearers of tattoos. The next known example of ancient Egyptians with tattoos doesn't appear for more than a thousand years later!

The original Hipsters

What was originally mistaken for a smudge was re-examined with infrared light, allowing scientists to see the markings on the mummified skin more clearly. On the male body, images of a wild bull and what appears to be a Barbary sheep can be seen.

The woman's body contains four "S"-like symbols on her top shoulder joint and an "L"-shaped line on her abdomen that archaeologists think might be a stave, or wooden staff.

Both bodies contained tattoos that were inked into the dermis, the thicker part of their skin, with an ink made of some sort of soot. Copper instruments found in nearby regions have been previously suggested as tattooing tools.

What the Tattoos Tell Us

Previously, archaeologists assumed that only women living during ancient Egypt's predynastic period, from 4000 B.C. to 3100 B.C., had tattoos. These latest findings tell us that both men and women in ancient Egyptian societies had tattoos.

This is also the first time archaeologists have found examples of tattoos on people that mirror motifs used in art, such as cave paintings. Both the images on the male and female seem to suggest a symbolic relevance, but archaeologists aren't quite of their exact meaning.

"The sheep is quite commonly used in the predynastic [Egyptian period] and its significance is not well understood, whereas the bull is specifically to do with male virility and status," says study author and British Museum curator Daniel Antoine.

It didn’t seem to help protect him though, as a CAT scan showed the man had a cut in his shoulder and damage to one of his ribs, suggesting he died from a stab wound to the back!

Astrological tattoo ideas - Leo, Virgo and Libra

Part three of our Zodiac tattoo series see the months August, September and October with Leo, Virgo and Libra.

Leo

July 23rd to August 22nd sees those born under the sign of Leo. These lions are natural-born leaders, with self-confidence, strength and loyalty their dominant traits. The downside of this is Leos can also be inflexible and arrogant, stubborn in their ways.

With the lion as the symbol for Leos, there is excellent opportunity for some impressive tattoo designs, both big and small.

Virgo

For Virgos, the devil is in the details, and their attention to the small things is what makes them so special. Virgos have a strong character, but one that prefers conservative, well-organized things and a lot of practicality in their everyday life. Many Virgos have a well-developed sense of speech and writing, and may choose to pursue a career as writers or journalists.

As a symbol, Virgo looks like the letter M with a little tail on the third leg, which can look great in a tattoo design.

Libra

Anyone born between September 23rd - October 22nd are Libras, represented by scales. This speaks to the balance in their lives; balance between work and home, family and friends, dreams and reality. Libras are level headed, cooperative and diplomatic, but can also be indecisive.

As an image, the scales make great tattoos, and the zodiac symbol for Libra opens up creative opportunities, allowing for some great designs.

3 big tattoo trends for 2018 (so far)

We’re half-way through the year, so now’s a good time to check in on what’s popular this year when it comes to tattoos.

Obviously, some of these trends aren’t new, but for one reason or another have become very popular recently.

Micro Tattoos

We have previously talked about micro tattoos, and how they have become popular in recent years, but 2018 has seen a massive increase in their popularity.

These simple, elegant and small tattoos are attractive to people for several reasons. Their size means the time taken to complete and heal is minimal and, if need be, they can be covered up easily.

Micro tattoos are usually black and white, with a simplistic, linear design, making them perfect for those who want to test the water for their first tattoo.

Watercolour tattoos

When done right, watercolour tattoos can look awesome, which explains their rise in popularity recently. But they’re tricky, and they need a good tattoo artist to get right. The biggest criticism of this style is their longevity; because of the lighter shading and pigmentation, they tend to fade quicker than traditional tattoos with their bolder lines and block colours.

Blackout tattoos

Originating from people simply covering up their unwanted tattoos, blackout tattoos have been the surprise of 2018.

First popularised by Singaporean artist Chester Lee a couple of years back, these tattoos are simply large blocks of black ink, without designs or colour, made popular by social media sites such as Instagram.

These blackout tattoos come with their own risk though. The shear amount of ink needed to black out an arm or leg brings with it an unusually high amount of toxins, such as titanium dioxide, lead, nickel and chromium. This can no only result in allergic reactions, skin rashes, and inflammation in the tissue, but make it extremely difficult to diagnose skin cancers, which, living in New Zealand, is a serious issue.

How long does a tattoo take to heal?

Asking how long a tattoo takes to heal is like asking how long does it take to get over the flu - everyone is different.

There are simply too many factors which effect the rate of healing for a tattoo, so there is no definitive answer on recovery time.

Generally speaking

The best we can do is give a generalisation of healing times, but even then it depends on what we’re talking about.

On the outside, a tattoo should look healed by 3 weeks, that is to say no longer red and scabby. But under the skin is a different question, and this can take several months to heal completely.

How to help the healing process

If you do get a tattoo, it’s worth buying a good tattoo aftercare cream to go along with it. We recommend Protat, which are the world’s first tattoo aftercare company. When using aftercare cream, only as much as the skin will absorb. Rub the cream in gently as this will help stimulate the skin and bring blood flow to the area which helps in the body's natural healing process.

What not to do

Don’t pick at it!! That’s the first thing to say. The healing process can be itchy, but avoid temptation by keeping it moisturised. Also stay out of the sun if you can, and if you can’t, use sunscreen.

Try to avoid tight fitting clothes, as they can rub against the skin and agitate the wound. Cleaning your tattoo is important, but don’t submerge it. A shower is preferable to a bath. Try and keep your tattoo out of the water for at least the first couple of weeks. Avoid swimming pools as the chlorine can do all kinds of damage, including fading the ink and drying out the skin, causing infection.

Why backpackers come to Sunset for a tattoo to take home

Word of mouth is spreading amongst the backpacking community!

More and more of our international guests are coming into the studio for a memento of their travels, and it’s all thanks to Sunset’s outstanding reputation.

Backpackers know the score

There aren’t many better countries in the world to travel around than New Zealand. With our ridiculous landscapes, friendly natives, and unique culture, Aotearoa is one of the safest and greatest places to backpack.

Many people want to remember their time here with a permanent souvenir, a tattoo to bring home and show off to friends and family.

Tribal tattoos are all the rage in Europe, but how many people back home can say theirs is an original, Maori design, created by a Kiwi native?

Only people who come to us and see Tristan can!

Tristan can sort you out

From Hokianga in the Northland, Tristan is of Te Rarawa descent, and graduated in 2014 from the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts institute.

With his diploma in traditional wood carving (Whakairo Rakau), Tristan came to Tom and asked about bringing his knowledge of carving and Maori art over to tattooing.

He is now tattooing full time with Sunset, and specializes in Ta Moko, Blackwork, pattern work, geometric and dot-work tattoo styles.

Why choose Sunset?

We take Health and Hygiene very seriously here at Sunset Tattoo, and our outstanding record is testament to our professionalism. Locals know they can trust us, and we’ve build up such a rock-solid reputation in Auckland that now word is spreading to the backpacking community.

The word around hostels, message boards, and along the camping trails is that Sunset Tattoo in Auckland is the place to go for a tattoo souvenir of New Zealand. Professional, clean, and experienced, you can’t go wrong with one of our designs!

Email us or pop into the studio for a chat!