Polynesian Tribal Tattoos


Samoa, the Cook Islands, Easter Island, Tonga, French Polynesia, Tahiti, Hawaii, etc. make up the Polynesian islands. These islands were discovered in 1500 and have now become a favorite tourist jaunt. A lot of people choose to get Polynesian tribal tattoos after they have visited these islands. The practice of tattoo making was used to signify hierarchy in the society, sexual maturity, and blood line. Body art was a universal custom followed in these islands, where both men and women got tattoos made on their buttocks, back of their thighs, arms, etc. The tools used to make these tattoos were made from fish and animal bones, tortoise shell, birds beak, claws, etc. Some of the tattoos also had religious aspects to them.

Polynesian Tribal Tattoo Meanings

They were seen as a symbol of courage, as the process of tattoo making was very painful. The person needed to have a lot of perseverance to endure the long process of tattoo making. The first tattoo was made around the age of twelve to mark the passage between childhood and adulthood. Tattoos were also seen as a sign of power and prestige. Hence, chiefs and warriors were the people who had the most elaborate tattoos, to mark their status and power within the society. Girls were also tattooed around the age of twelve, however, their tattoos were not as elaborate and were usually made on hands, arms, feet, lips and ears. It was considered very prestigious for a woman to get a tattoo made on the legs. This process of getting the tattoo made at the age of twelve was also looked upon as rite of passage. It was considered that tattoos added to the sexual attractiveness of a woman and man. They were also seen as a talisman, which seemed to offer protection from evil spirits. Some of the tattoos were also made as a symbol of mourning for a loved one.

Designs

There are two most popular tattoo designs among Polynesian tattoo designs. The first are the Enata designs, which are natural designs, that symbolize a person's life history, island or origin, status in the society, type of work done, etc. If the person was a fisherman, he would get a tattoo made which would protect him from dangerous sharks or protect his fishing vessel when he went deep into the sea for fishing. The other type of designs were the Etua designs. These designs had much more stronger, spiritual, magical or religious meanings attached to them. They were used to depict the honor of the person in the tribe and also to offer protection by the Gods. Now let's see the most commonly used designs.

Tiki: Tiki is a God who is always depicted with closed eyes, as it was believed that Tiki could smell trouble before he could see the trouble coming.

Shells: Shells were used as currency in the Polynesian islands. They symbolized wealth, hence were used by people to make tattoos.

Sharks and Shark Teeth: They were considered as sacred animals, who were powerful and mighty. The teeth of the sharks were used for protection from enemies.

Turtles: Turtles were very popular in Polynesian tattoo art, as they depicted fertility and long life.

Gecko: Geckos were said to have supernatural powers and were looked upon by the Polynesians with awe and fear. It was also said, that if a gecko 'laughs', a terrible omen of illness and bad fortune will befall on the person and his family.

The other designs used in the Polynesian tattoos were dolphins, tropical flowers, sea turtles, arrows, etc. Legs, arms, face, torso were the areas where the men would get their tattoos made. Women on the other hand, got them made on the hands, wrist, tongue, lips, etc. Although the process was painful, people would get them made nevertheless.

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