Roman Tattoos

[Neuraleanus]

Idem a. eumelio. si quis in ludum fuerit vel in metallum pro criminum deprehensorum qualitate damnatus, minime in eius facie scribatur, dum et in manibus et in suris possit poena damnationis una scriptione comprehendi, quo facies, quae ad similitudinem pulchritudinis caelestis est figurata, minime maculetur. dat.

I think that this phrase refers to marks put on the "face, hands, and calfs of the legs" of criminals. Were these marks tattoos? I'm not sure.

Vegitius does mention something called the "military mark" given to milites novi, but again, was this a tattoo?

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Thats very good to hear....when is that translator of your going to be working?

[Magnus]

What other kind of mark would it be...a heated brand? Nothing else is really permanent.

[Tarbicus]

Just found this- quoted in The Roman Cavalry by Dixon and Southern (page 84) - from the sixth century doctor Aetius.

"They call "tattoos" that which is inscribed on the face or some other part ofthe body, for example on the hands of soldiers, and they use the following ink......

Caballo, a brownie point to you.

[Caballo]

Thanks! As an identification mark, it makes a lot of sense- a bit like the indelible fluorescent ink they used to put on your hand in a disco (that dates me...) if you wanted to nip outside.

Cheers

Caballo