1. “moko“ tattoo

2. The Art Of TattooS ComeS From A Love Story The legend of tattoos depends on the culture, for example in Polynesia its origin is divine and was created by two brothers to seduce a young woman. In Maori culture tattoos come from a love story between Mataora ( which means " Face of Vitality ") and a young princess named Niwareka. One day, Mataora hit Niwareka who fled to join his father's kingdom, Uetonga. Mataora, with his heart broken, went in search of the princess. After many attempts, he finally arrived in the kingdom of Uetonga. But after his long journey, the painting of his face was dirty and worn. Mataora asked Niwareku for forgiveness, which was granted to him. Niwareku's father gave to the young man the art of tattoo. The two lovers returned to the human's world bringing with them this art. Tattoos WERE born.

3. The Meaning of Tattoos ● In Maori culture tattoos have always played a very important role. They were used as a means of social communication. ● Tattoos are a means to reflect the personality of a person on his body. Tattoos which are already on someone can't be copied because it would be seen as stealing their identity, unique to anyone. ● Tattoos were used to indicate the caste of each person, the their maternal and paternal origin, occupation, or even birth ● rank. ● Warriors wore tattoos with pride to tell about their ● exploits and their history.

4. TOOLS AND TEChNIcS The tool used to tattoo was a chisel made with bones, with a sharp edge in sawtooth waveform, or with a straight edge and very sharp. The chisel could be made with pigs or rats' bones. Some people think that the sticks were made with humans bones, more efficiently, because they got more mana (supernatural strength.) Chisel Different sorts of chisel

5. TechnicS The first operation consisted in making deep lines in the skin. Then we dipped the chisel in a soot pigment, such as burning rubber of the native gum tree, the Kauri or soot tracks burned. Then, the pigment was hammered into the skin. It was extremely painful and very long; often leaves the native tree, Karaka were placed on the swollen tattoo cuts to speed healing.

6. Tattoos in society Tattoos design the rank of the person in Polynesian society; being tattooed was a sign of strength, power, wealth. Consequently we could observe tattoos most elaborated on chief, warriors. The person who was not tattooed was despised, while the others enjoyed great prestige. Tattoos had an aesthetic function too, the 'moko' made the warrior attractive to women.Warriors tattooed their body to appear stronger in the face of the enemy. Tattoos were considered as a form of beautification of the person. A woman who had no tattoos on her lips was not seen as attractive.

7. Examples of moko (tattooS)

8. Some pIctures of Tattoos