Europe has seen quite a few rise and fall of the art of tattooing over the years. With the advent of Christianity this exotic art took a back seat and was only being used as the mark of shame and disgrace. There was a time when the art of tattooing in Europe was only meant for marking the prisoners, captives or the slaves. The Christianity vehemently opposed of idea of creating tattoo on the body as a part of ornamentation.

It was in the eighteenth century when the art of tattooing in Europe once again returned with the sailors bringing back with them this decorative art form from the pacific islands. Sailors of Europe discovered the pacific islands and along with it this extraordinary art form which was long forgotten.

In the nineteenth century Europe the tattoos were being worn by people from the inferior class and thus it became somewhat a symbol of inherited criminal classes. People from the nomadic groups also wore different tattoos on their body. People who were not a part of the regular society used to wear tattoos. Soldiers, prisoners, criminals were some of those who used tattoos quite profusely.

Tattoos were used quite intelligently and effectively in Greece. It was not a mere decorative art for them. The Greeks used tattoos to mark their secret spies. And there were different levels of spies who bore different tattoos which helped to identify their position and ranks. Romans also used the art of tattooing to mark the prisoners or criminals. The people from Denmark and Norway also wore tattoos. And especially the Vikings used colorful tattoos as early as 1100.

In the modern times, Tattoos are not a taboo at all in Europe. People are wearing different kinds of symbolic tattoos on their body and it is also being regarded as a fashion statement especially among the rock stars, youths and unconventional groups. The art of tattooing in Europe have come a long way down the history and it is great to see this exotic art existing quite dominantly in today’s culture.