Inca Tattoos are a popular style that you see all over the world. However, little is known about the South American tattoo culture, especially not from the early days. However, that knowledge, or lack of, has only proven to increase its popularity with both historians and tattoo lovers alike. There are no documents showing it, but a lot of people believe that the tradition stems from the ancient Roman community.
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Inca Tattoos
All that we know has come from what historians and archaeologists have uncovered while digging in the ground. In 1920, those archaeologists uncovered mummies that dated back to around the 12th century. Those mummies had vast amounts of tattoos on their bodies, and they were placed on their skin through various methods, some of which were very close to the current practice of tattooing.
Although the 12th century is pre-Inca, this is likely where the Incas had their inspiration from, leading to a culture that is still very prevalent today. That style is a very obvious one, with a lot of geometric shapes, symmetry, and other images surrounded by shapes, such as mythological creatures, birds, fish, dogs, predatory cats, and even demon guards. Furthermore, the Incas had an affinity to tattooing the supreme god, Viracocha, who was considered to be the creator of the sun, and father of all other Inca gods.
Inca Warrior Tattoo
One of the most common and iconic Inca tattoos is the Inca warrior. These designs will often feature the face of an Inca warrior against a shield or old stone temple. They are the most common style of Inca symbols that you will see inked onto the bodies of many people, dating from the Peruvian era right until now. The size of the warrior tattoo is very personal, and you can opt for a small tattoo on your hand, right through to a substantial back piece that covers your entire back.
The intricacies of the Inca warrior tattoos are varied from person to person, and style to style. Some people prefer black and white blocks; others prefer color tattoos with an enormous amount of detail. Of course, the differences between the two are much more than visual. The time that it takes for each of the styles is of creat consideration, along with the cost, too. However, some of the most detailed Inca warrior tattoos certainly are among the most striking that you will see.
Inca Symbols
Of course, the warrior is not the only awesome tattoo Inca tribe who had up their sleeves. There are so many symbols that you could have instead of a full back piece. The great thing about those styles is that you can fit them in almost any place that you like. If you already have an Incan tattoo, but would like to add some smaller tattoos to complete the space, then these are ideal for you.
The majority of symbols are of the same nature as the larger tattoos that you see. However, all of the symbols have their own specific meanings, which adds a tremendous amount of customization and personalization to your tattoo. That is one of the best things about all tattoos, and there is not a single person with the same as you. With the vast amount of Inca symbols that you can add to your Inca warrior or any other Inca tattoo, you are guaranteed to have a unique piece of artwork.
Inca Condor
One of the most iconic symbols that you will see on a large scale on a tattoo is the Condor. Tribal Condors are amazing in the Inca tattoo culture. The reason for that is simple; they are sacred birds in the Andean Cultures. They are almost as common as the tribal mask and warrior.
Conclusion
Whether you have a large or small Inca tattoo, or if it is in solid black, color, or a complex mixture of all of them, you are sure to have a tattoo that you love for many years. As the Inca tattoos are so old and still used today, you know that this is not a style that will go out of fashion. One thing that I would suggest, though, is to look through a lot of designs and pick the elements that you like.
If you are looking for a tattooist, you can always try here.
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