Thracians and their tattooing reflection in modern society
The Thracians were an Indo-European speaking people who inhabited much of south-eastern Europe in ancient history. Thrace, Moesia, Macedonia, Boeotia, Attica, Dacia, Scythia Minor, Sarmatia, Bithynia, Mysia, Pannonia and other regions of the Balkans and Anatolia. This area extended over most of the Balkan region from the Danube to Pannonia. Today we know these territories as Bulgaria, Romania, Bosnia, Serbia, Croatia, Northern Greece, (Asia Minor) Turkey.
Speaking of recognizable characters, the favorite tattoo format people choose to tattoo is Spartacus, whose true origin is Thrace. During one of the battles between the Roman Empire, this fighter was captured and taken as a prisoner to fight in the gladiatorial arenas.
Thracian warriors were highly valued as mercenaries, especially among Macedonians and Romans. They were distinguished by good physical shape and their excellent handling of combat weapons. Ancient Greek and Roman historians agreed that the ancient Thracians were superior fighters; it was only their constant political fragmentation that prevented them from conquering the Mediterranean northeastern territories.
Victor Duruj also notes that they "considered animal husbandry unworthy of a warrior and knew no other source of profit than war" and theft. The Thracians have "tattooed their bodies, bought wives, and often sold their children."
Another interesting feature that was characteristic of this group of fighters. Polan and Strabo write how Thracians before battle beat their weapons against each other, "in the manner of Thracians".
The Thracians knocked Roman heads on their spears, as an example mentioned, in the battle at Kallinikos skirmish in 171 BC.
Can be pulled out succession with Count Dracula of present-day Transylvania, who also dealt with the heads of his opponents in a similar manner, however blood doesn’t lie, his ancestors were Thracians.
Tattoos weren’t allowed to be worn by anyone. It was the privilege of the nobility, as well as the best warriors who proved themselves in battles were worthy of it.
The Thracians believed that there was life after death, their burial traditions were similar to Scythians, lots of gold and everything that could be useful - including a beloved wife, a horse, etc. They were sacrificed and buried side by side.
A good booty is gold, Thracians had more than enough of it. According to Roman records, the Thracian ruler, to conclude cooperation with Caesar of Rome, arrived in a golden chariot, which was fully covered with symbols and writings. They were harnessed by two magnificent snow-white horses, which were said to be as swift as the wind.
Many mentions and define the territory of Bulgaria as the main place of origin and residence of Thracians, this is certainly not objective, since the last mention of this culture (Thracians) was in the 4th century BC. When Caesar Constantine IV was determined to conquer Bulgaria and together with the Thracians was defeated by the combined Bulgarian and Slavic forces.
In archeological excavations fragments were found indicating skin markings, depicted on a person, so what do we really know today about Thracian tattoos and their motifs???
The first is the divine motif, which on vases describe the event of a specific myth. Looking at these lines and symbols depicted on the heroes' skin, one would like to admit that the drawings are more practical than spiritual, as a sign of beauty and belonging to the tribe.
Today, this drawing motif is reflected in the descendants. For thousands of years, women in what is now Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the rest of the Balkans had performed sicanje on their daughters —the word literally means "to prick". Using a needle - a mixture of soot, honey and mother's milk, the traditions of tattooing were reflected on the wrist, hand and palm. The chest and sometimes the forehead were covered with deeply symbolic patterns. In the 1920s, anthropologists confirmed that the sicanje has existed for almost 4,000 years and that its origins are linked to the ancestors who inhabited these areas.
P.S
The ancient drawing traditions have acquired the symbolism of Christianity and Muslim, distancing these drawings from the discussed Thracians pagan symbolism, but one can undeniably find a similarity in the lines. A question to which we did not find an answer. Why historically these tattoos were done by women and basically, they are only for women? Write to us :) We will add a new section to this article.