Body language

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 3:31 am

Hi:)

Was it ever popular to tattoo your clan's identification, motto? on your person?

dennis

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 12:20 pm

Hi Dennis
I'm not up on the history of tatoos in UK, (I did look into it as a student, but that is a long time ago!!) but I thought initially tatoos were popular with mariners & etc. I thought until recent times the tatoos which were popular were of the rose/mother or a small motif type. (apart from the occaisional tatooed woman in side-shows & the like)

I considered that the tatooing of a "group membership", whether clan, footie team or "significant other" was a relatively recent development in the history of tatooing, but I may be wrong.

Best wishes
Lesley

Post by **Tracey** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 1:12 pm

Throughout history tattoos have signified membership in a clan or society.....

http://www.powerverbs.com/tattooyou/history.htm

Happy reading !

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 4:02 pm

Hi Dennis

I doubt if the ordinary clansman would fancy having a tattoo which would single him out has having a particular affiliation. Allegiences could change and a clan chief or landowner could go out of political or religious favour.
If you were marked indelibly as a loyal follower you could suffer the same fate as your chief. Clansmen need not be related to the chief but had to provide armed support for him when he called for it. In return they were able to eke out a living on an allocated piece of land.
If a clan was broken up, as happened to the McGregors, a tattoo would prevent you from settling elsewhere and swearing allegience there.

Just my thoughts on it.

Russell

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 7:42 pm

Hi & thank you for the replies:)

Fascinating reading Tracey:) Were the painted faces of clansmen in Braveheart fictional or is there any historical truth to it?

dennis

Post by **Tracey** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 8:37 pm

Hi Dennis

This article in The Scotsman ( concerning breast cancer)
http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid ... 1180862006

Woad was used by tribes living in ancient Britain to colour their faces and bodies. Among them were the Iceni, led by Queen Boudicca, who went into battle against the Romans naked but painted blue.

Go girl !

The plant dye was highly prized in the Middle Ages but was largely replaced by cheaper, imported indigo in the 16th century.

Googling about the make up in Braveheart doesnt really answer the question as far as i can see (without having to read through too much

).

What has come up about Braveheart mentions Mel Gibsons "blue" face so i suppose it was a possibility if the dye was replaced in 16th century and he was around till 1734 it may have just made it in time !:?

Post by **emanday** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 8:54 pm

Remembering watching this at the home of English friends, with no small degree of pain and embarrassment, Mr Gibson's rendering of a Scottish accent...

A hae ma doots aboot the face paint [-X

Post by **Tracey** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 10:40 pm

What has come up about Braveheart mentions Mel Gibsons "blue" face so i suppose it was a possibility if the dye was replaced in 16th century and he was around till 1734 it may have just made it in time !

Just realised my gaff here - got my Rob Roy and William Wallace muddled and only just twigged because the film is on now

I'll be watching out for blue faces though