The Origins Of Body Modification

Day 2

Sunday, June 30th, 2013

A display case oftribal ear weights from Borneo, Malaysia Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

I tried to stop the reflection from showing; I’m still new though.

Tattoo History: Algerian Women 

On traditional Algerian women’s tattooing, Mathéa Gaudry identifies the forehead pattern as a palm tree, a symbol of fertility. The jaw line patterns “are broken lines with a diamond to repel the Evil Eye. The simple, geometric patterns act as topographical lines on the face. As facial contours change with smiles, frowns, and grimaces, the lines flex.“

Among Berber women, “the lip was frequently tattooed as well as the underlip and chin. Sometimes this tattooing extended into the inside of the lip, even to the gums of the lower teeth. Nibbling the lower lip was a favorite sexual foreplay, so a tattooed lower lip was an ‘invitation to nibble’.” Most Algerian women were tattooed prior to marriage, to become “suitable for marriage, and virtually all women married. If a woman did not quickly become pregnant, she was likely to be repudiated (divorced) by her husband. If her family did not take her back, sex work was one of the few ways she could earn a living.” Sources: Catherine Cartwright-Jones, PhD, harquus.com (2005) Mathéa Gaudry. ”La Femme Chaouia de L'Aures“ (1929)

Some Yanomami tribe portraits.

P.D: Happy anniversary Tribal Male Beauty!