Tattoo

:For the unrelated Military music tattoo, a parade, see Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Purpose

Today, people commonly choose to be tattooed for cosmetic, religious and magical reasons, as well as as a symbol of belonging to or identification with particular groups (see Criminal tattoos). Some Maori males still choose to wear intricate moko on their faces. Throughout history people have also been forcibly tattooed for a variety of reasons. The best known is the ka-tzetnik identification system for Jews in part of the concentration camps during the Holocaust.

Related Topics:
Religious - Magic - Criminal tattoo - Maori - Moko - Ka-tzetnik - The Holocaust

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European sailors were known to tattoo the crucifixion on their backs to prevent flogging as a punishment. They also employed other tattoos to facilitate identification in the most unfortunate circumstances.

Related Topics:
Crucifixion - Flogging

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Tattoos are also placed on animals, though very rarely for decorative reasons. Pets, show animals, thoroughbred horses and livestock are sometimes tattooed with identification marks, and certain of their body parts (for example, noses) have also been tattooed to prevent sunburn. Another example of this is factory farm Marshall Farms of upstate New York. They tattoo the ears of all the ferret kittens they breed. Such tattoos are performed by veterinarians and the animals are anaesthetized to prevent pain. Branding would not be considered a tattoo since no ink or dye is inserted, even though the animals are permanently marked with a symbol of some sort.

Related Topics:
Thoroughbred - Horse

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