These might range from hopes for fertility to protection of a child's life, sometimes as a hopeful means to provide a cure. Men are sometimes tattooed, too, as in the Marsh Arabs of Iraq.Īlthough it has become increasingly rare, many Arabic cultures retained old beliefs in "magical" results from specific tattoos given under certain circumstances.
Western observers reported that "the women of Baghdad stained their bosoms with figures of circles, half-moons, stars, in a bluish stamp." The "tattooed necks" of the Arab "fellah" (a peasant in Arab countries) mothers were remarked upon, as well. At one point, these tattoos were tribal markings of status and beauty, symbols that were borrowed from the complicated designs in the rugs now most Amazigh women consider their tattoos to be a shameful reminder of a pagan practice." The reason? One source says, "body art markings, called lousham in Arabic or ahetjam in Tamazight, are no longer considered to be a pious Muslim practice and as a result very few younger women will carry these tattoos. Usually only older women are seen with tattoos on their chin and forehead.
TRIBAL TATTOO TUTORIAL SKIN
Traditional Middle Eastern tattoos were done via a rudimentary method of pricking the skin and then rubbing in a mixture of smoke black or indigo.