Innovation No. 47 of 77 in the book
Protective Tattoos
Tattooed skin preserved on Predynastic mummies, worn mostly by women for protection
- When
- c. 3350 BCE
- Dynasty
- None (before the dynasties)
- Era
- Predynastic Period
The oldest tattooed skin ever discovered belongs to two Predynastic Egyptian mummies from Gebelein, buried around 3350 BCE, centuries before the pharaohs.
Infrared imaging revealed the ink: a wild bull and a Barbary sheep across a man’s shoulder, and geometric motifs on a woman. The tradition was not exclusively female at its origin, but it soon became one.
By the Middle Kingdom, tattooing evolved into a practice worn almost entirely by women. Inked nets across the abdomen and figures of the protective god Bes on the thighs guarded mothers through the perils of pregnancy and childbirth.
Permanent ink as personal protection — body art worn as an amulet — began on the Nile.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the earliest archaeological evidence for protective tattoos in ancient Egypt?
The earliest confirmed evidence dates to approximately 3350 BCE during Egypt's Predynastic. The oldest tattooed skin ever discovered belongs to two Predynastic Egyptian mummies from Gebelein, buried around 3350 BCE, centuries before the pharaohs.
How did ancient Egyptians develop protective tattoos, and what is its legacy?
Infrared imaging revealed the ink: a wild bull and a Barbary sheep across a man’s shoulder, and geometric motifs on a woman. The tradition was not exclusively female at its origin, but it soon became one. Infrared imaging revealed the ink: a wild bull and a Barbary sheep across a man’s shoulder, and geometric motifs on a woman. The tradition was not exclusively female at its origin, but it soon became one. Permanent ink as personal protection — body art worn as an amulet — began on the Nile.