Tattoos in Roman Military/Society

[Celtic505]

I was wondering about how my tattoos would make my Roman impression look rather innaccurate but it led me to wonder about the practice of tattooing in Roman society but particularly the Roman army. I honestly know nothing of the practice in Roman society but know tattoos have been around quite long before the Romans, the only exmaple of Roman tattoos I've heard of is Maximus' SPQR tattoo in Gladiator. But hollywood aside, is there anything out there that speaks of this practice among soldiers? Was it frowned upon, punishable, encouraged, seen as a mark of lower status or not even done at all? Anybody know of any ancient writings or references, or perhaps examples in art of the period?

[Memmia]

The latin word for tattoo is 'stigma' that should give you an idea about how they were viewed in society :lol:

'Marked' people were usually criminals, slaves or soldiers. I have read on different sites that some soldiers were marked on the hand with their legion number or symbol, in essence to prevent desertion, but how much of that is 'Hollywood' or truth, I'm not sure.
They were generally frowned on by polite society, although soldiers tended to be outside of this circle, and were often just frowned upon for being 'common' soldiers
I'm sure the odd courtesan or even odd emperor may have had a cheeky tat hidden somewhere very private though :wink: I'm sure Elagabalus may have had a few

Tattoos may have been popular amongst soldiers, but they were generally frowned upon by high class Romans as a Barbarian practice. Slaves were often tattooed on their foreheads, and also some prisoners had their faces tattoed as a mark of disgrace. Barbarians favoured facial tattoos, so it may be that Roman soldiers copied these facial tattoos rather than on other parts of the body. If and when a soldier managed to rise up the ranks though, a tattooed face could well cause him embarrassment, however there were supposed methods of tattoo removal too, and the tattoo removal business was quite popular.

Martial wrote in his epigrams about a freed slave who became successful, but had the embarrassment of a forehead tattoo which he tried to cover:

(Martial 2.29)

Rufus, do you see that fellow sitting in the front row?
The one whose bejewelled hand is gleaming even at this distance?
The one whose coat has so often absorbed expensive dye,
And whose toga has been bidden to rival untouched snow?
Whose pomaded hair can be smelled throughout the whole theater?
Whose smooth, depilated arms are shiny?
On whose fashionable shoe a brand-new latchet rests?
Whose dainty foot red leather ornaments?
Whose starry brow several sticking plasters cover?
You don't know what it means? Remove the plasters, you'll read.

[Memmia]

P.S. Emperor Constantine was supposed to have officially banned facial tattoos, and even ordered that criminals were only allowed to be branded on the hands and feet- can any Late Roman on here coaberate this ?


EDITED:

Just found this link regarding soldiers on Hadrians wall being tattoed

Hadrians wall soldiers tattooed

'Vegetius recorded that a recruit to the Roman army "should not be tattooed with the pin-pricks of the official mark as soon as he has been selected, but first be thoroughly tested in exercises so that it may be established whether he is truly fitted for so much effort",' says Lindsay. (Source: Flavius Vegetius Renatus, Epitome of Military Science, Chapter 8) .

'We do not know what this official mark looked like. It was possibly an eagle or the symbol of the soldier's legion or unit', she said.

Lindsay has even unearthed evidence that the legionaries would have sported the tattoo on their hands. Aetius, the 6th century Roman doctor, recording that tattoos were found on the hands of soldiers, even documented the Roman technique for tattooing, which included first washing the area to be tattooed with leek juice, known for its antiseptic properties. Aetius even went so far as to document the formula for the tattooing ink, which combined Egyptian pine wood (especially the bark), corroded bronze, gall and vitriol with more leek juice. The design was pricked into the skin with pointed needles 'until blood is drawn', and then the ink was rubbed on.

Hope this helps


P.S. There's also a nice account of a baker from Pompeii with a tattoo too in that article too :wink:

[Tarbicus]

I'm absolutely convinced that tattoos were a fairly regular thing, partly because of the prevalence of specialists in tattoo removal which was quite a lucrative trade.

This was discussed some time ago, so I recommend reading a previous thread here:
http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic.php?t=9716
http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic.php?t=10196

More discussion elsewhere:
http://www.ancientworlds.net/aw/Post/55599
http://www.biblehistory.com/142.htm

Without a doubt, you should try to get your hands on this paper:
Jones, C.P. "Stigma: Tattooing and Branding in Graeco-Roman Antiquity." Journal of Roman Studies 77 (1987) 139-155.

If it's also true that Constantine banned the tattooing of soldier's faces, well, there had to be tattooing in the first place for it to be banned. Does anyone have a source for that?

[petrinus]

i intend to use a bandage to cover my leg tattoo as it is quite large and modern, i will eventual have it removed but it is very expensive (and painful). what type of bandages would be used or most appropriate, linen?
also does anyone know of a theatre make up that is water/sweat proof that i could use to cover over it? skin tone something or other? ive elected for a tunica with sleeves to mask my arm tatoo and atleast if its seen its a tribal sun and was crudely rendered.

[Memmia]

i intend to use a bandage to cover my leg tattoo as it is quite large and modern, i will eventual have it removed but it is very expensive (and painful). what type of bandages would be used or most appropriate, linen?
also does anyone know of a theatre make up that is water/sweat proof that i could use to cover over it? skin tone something or other? ive elected for a tunica with sleeves to mask my arm tatoo and atleast if its seen its a tribal sun and was crudely rendered.

http://www.dermablend.com/Fullcatalog.aspx

or even better:

www.veilcover.com/

If it's a mainly black tattoo, use a white base first, then cover with a flesh coloured cover cream :wink:

[petrinus]

hey, thanks!!!!! looks great, i take it youve used them? hate to spend the money not knowing, i tried tatbgone but it only lightend the tat a little...if

[Peroni]

JoIn the auxilia and wear a long sleeved tunic!

I'm heavily tatooed on one arm and it works a treat!

[Memmia]

hey, thanks!!!!! looks great, i take it youve used them? hate to spend the money not knowing, i tried tatbgone but it only lightend the tat a little...if

Hi, TatBGone is NOT good to use, the main ingredient is a skin lightener called hydroquinone which is banned in many countries, don't use it! hock: If you really want it removed, laser is probably your best option.
I haven't actually used those camouflage products myself just yet, but have heard good things about them from other people, especially the veil cover cream. The only snag with these products is that it takes quite a lot of practice to apply them well enough to be unnoticed.

The ancients knew quite a bit about tattoo removal :

However, I wouldn't recommend this, do not try this at home

http://tattoobody.org/index.php?page=ancient-history

In cases where we wish to remove such tattoos, we must use the following preparations...[There follow two prescriptions, one involving lime, gypsum and sodium carbonate. the other pepper, rue and honey]. When applying, first clean the tattoos with nitre, smear them with resin of terebinth, and bandage for five days. On the sixth prick the tattoos with a pin. sponge away the blood, and then spread a little salt on the pricks, then after an interval of ten stadioi (presumably the time taken to travel this distance], apply the aforesaid prescription and cover it with a linen bandage. Leave on for five days, and on the sixth smear on some of the prescription with a feather. The tattoos are removed in twenty days, without great ulceration and without a scar. (translated by CP. Jones)

[Memmia]

JoIn the auxilia and wear a long sleeved tunic!

I'm heavily tatooed on one arm and it works a treat!

Yeah, that's probably the easiest option :lol:

It's also cheaper, less painful and doesn't leave a nasty scar!

[Uwe Bahr]

Salvete,

this discussion brings into my mind, that some face mask helmets have symbols on the face, for example:

www.legionsix.org/facemask.jpg

Greets - Uwe

[Peroni]

There are similar decorations on the cavalry masks from Nijmegen, Emesa and Aintab too.

The Aintab decoration is particularly intricate.

[petrinus]

from my understanding not only auxilla have sleeves, there is evidence-unless i am grossly misinformed, of it being an option or a preference, just that most did not. sort of like color, extra material and dyes all cost money ergo white short sleevless were the norm.

[petrinus]

oh, you did say long sleeved huh? my bad, its early ive yet to enjoy my cafe'. anyway yeah, sleeves aside this leg tat is right on my calf/shin area, a good 4x8 piece thats gonna hurt someting awful to have lasered!

[Peroni]

Leg wraps :wink: