Roman Soldiers’ Tattoo History

Posted on October 13, 2009
Filed Under Tattoo History

For almost two centuries the researches from every corner of the globe have been unsuccessfully trying to explain the motives of sailors and military men for tattooing, but the fact is evident – the tradition goes back to the ancient times. At those times nations and ethnos of various social and national background were aware of identification or distinguishing tattoos and made extensive use of them.

In Ancient Greece and Rome tattooing was connected with barbarian raids. The technology itself was borrowed by Greeks from Persians for labeling thieves and outlaws. It was further borrowed by Romans, who, in their turn, used tattooing for army purposes in order that deserters might be easily identified.

So, in Ancient Rome the tattooing of people became not a mere tradition but a principle of law. Roman soldiers were tattooed – either compulsory or voluntary - according to their duties. For instance, the instructions of West Roman Honorius (384-423 AD) and East Roman Arcady (377-408 AD) told that the armorers of Roman legions were to be forcibly tattooed with special signs.

Each Roman soldiers’ tattoo corresponded to a certain legion’s logo and were done on the soldiers’ arms. The technology was as follows: at first the skin was greased with leek sap as antiseptic, and then ink was tattooed with the help of sharp tools. The ink was composed of pine crust, bronze powder, vitriol and little quantity of leek.

Not only did the Romans tattoo their legions, but also criminals and slaves were tattooed. In this case the word “tattoo” is synonymic to “the brand of disgrace and shame.”

With the introduction of Christianity in Roman Empire tattoo art began to decline. In 325 AD Emperor Konstantin issued a decree never to tattoo faces, but arms and legs, as he thought that the face that was given by God must not be dirtied. In 787 AD Pope Hadrian forbade any other types of tattooed, and all the future Popes fallowed his example. That’s why tattoo art was in fact unknown to the Christian world up to the 19th century.