Monday Musing

Good Morning!

My thoughts today are about Tattoos. Tribal Tattoos. A lot of paranormal romance and urban fantasy book covers show the male body covered in tattoos between the neck and waist. They, the tattoos, look good. Damned good. But, where do they come from? why would men (and sometimes women) wear them? what do they mean?

Tribal Tattoos were found on a man's body as early as 5,000 years ago. This appears to be the oldest scientific proof. The practice of tattooing has been in place for many years in such places as Africa, New Zealand, North America and Europe--just to name a few.

Tattoos were worn primarily to designate a person's group or tribe. Tattoos were also worn to show loyalty for a particular group or tribe, to depict important battles that particular person may have fought in and to show what element, symbol or animal the person most identified with.

So the next time you drool over...I mean check out a book cover with a luscious tattooed male, let's think about what that cover may mean for the hero (its usually him on the cover). That cover may depict the paranormal group he represents, his loyalties, his pain and the battles he (or she) is in the mist of or have been a part of.

What are your thoughts on Tribal Tattoos? What do they mean to you?