| Though it has become very popular in Western | | | | years throughout Western cultures. |
| Cultures in the past few years, native people | | | | While not necessarily used as a wedding |
| groups around the world have used the tribal | | | | adornment, henna tattoos have found a place in |
| tattoo for various purposes for thousands of | | | | gothic subculture as a means of decorating the |
| years. | | | | body. |
| A brief history of these uses will give people who | | | | These tribal patterns are considered works of art |
| may want a tribal tattoo a better idea of exactly | | | | by themselves and each one is to be a unique |
| what they want in a tattoo. More than just | | | | creation of the tattoo artist's abilities and vision. |
| designs, these tribal symbols are often fraught | | | | Native Americans tribal designs have also found |
| with meaning and can signify many different | | | | popularity in recent years. They are often |
| aspects of human life. | | | | abstract creations that denote an emotion. Power, |
| While there are many different cultures that | | | | peace, wisdom and authority are subtly portrayed |
| provide the basis for tribal tattoos, we will look at | | | | in these tattoos. |
| just a few of them here in order to develop a | | | | Men typically get these designs wrapped around |
| basic understanding of the most popular types. | | | | their upper arm, or they may have them wrap |
| The first style is found in ancient Egypt. Tattoos | | | | from their back, over their shoulder and down |
| of hieroglyphics have become increasingly popular | | | | onto their arm. |
| as people are choosing to tattoo themselves with | | | | Women will typically have these Native American |
| symbols that may be very meaningful to them, | | | | body art designs placed in the small of their back, |
| but that they want to remain rather cryptic to | | | | or on a shoulder. |
| others. | | | | Regardless, of the location or the origin, the |
| In addition to hieroglyphs, the ancient Egyptians | | | | popularity of tribal tattoo designs shows that |
| used tattoos to depict religious scenes. Creatures | | | | people are open to listening and learning from the |
| that were half animal and half human represented | | | | wisdom and traditions of other cultures. |
| the Egyptian gods and their beliefs about the | | | | Often, people who choose to get a tribal body art |
| afterlife. | | | | are trying to express an emotion or a message |
| Another form of tribal tattooing is found in Asia. A | | | | that they are unable to do with words, or a |
| henna tattoo was used in many Hindu cultures to | | | | common image. The tribal tattoo design sets |
| decorate a bride's body for her husband. This | | | | apart the message as being something special, |
| practice has become increasingly popular in recent | | | | unique and important. |