[expand]Tattooing was not a casual procedure. It was a ritual ordeal, painful and dangerous, requiring preparation and spiritual focus.
The Artist:
Not everyone could tattoo. The artist was usually a priest, shaman, or elder with spiritual authority. They knew the symbols’ meanings, the proper placement, the prayers and charms required during application.
The artist prepared by fasting, purifying themselves in the bathhouse, and invoking the relevant deities. The tattooing was sacred work, requiring spiritual readiness.
The Tools:
Tattoo needles were made from bone, thorn, or metal (copper, bronze, or iron depending on the symbol’s purpose—iron for warrior marks, silver for moon/feminine symbols). The needles were often blessed or consecrated before use.
Ink was created from natural materials: soot from sacred fires mixed with water or fat, crushed charcoal, plant-derived dyes. Some sources suggest blood was occasionally mixed into the ink—the recipient’s own blood, creating a deeper connection between body and symbol.
The Procedure:
The recipient sat or lay in a position exposing the area to be tattooed. The artist marked the design in charcoal or dye first, ensuring correct placement. Then the needling began—rapid punctures driving ink beneath the skin, line by line, dot by dot.
The pain was significant. The recipient was expected to endure in silence—crying out or flinching suggested weakness, a lack of commitment to the mark they were receiving. The ability to withstand the pain was itself a test, proof that the person was worthy of the symbol.
The Healing:
After completion, the tattooed area was treated with fat, honey, or herbal salves to prevent infection. The healing period (one to two weeks) was considered sacred time—the symbol was settling into the flesh, bonding with the body. During this period, the recipient observed taboos: no bathing in cold water (the tattoo might “wash away”), no sexual activity (vital energy needed for healing), careful diet (avoiding foods that might cause inflammation).
If the tattoo healed cleanly, it was a good sign—the symbol had been accepted by body and spirits. If infection occurred, it suggested the symbol was wrongly chosen or the recipient unworthy.
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