The History of Tattooing. Rituals, Beliefs, Taboos

The book by Wilfrid Dyson Hambly represents the most comprehensive history of tattooing practices worldwide.

The author carefully and thoroughly explores ancient traditions of marking the body in such global cultural centers as Babylon, Egypt, Peru, Mexico, Japan, and China, revealing many fascinating facts and demonstrating the sequence of tattoo migration.

He traces the connection between body markings and religious beliefs as well as magical practices, and examines the social and antisocial purposes of tattooing.

Hambly devoted special chapters to techniques of marking the body, as well as the historical and geographical spread of tattooing.

The text is accompanied by illustrations and photographs.