Polynesian Tattoos

Polynesian Tattoos have a long and colorful history among the Polynesian tribes that were spread out across the South Pacific. Most of the ancient Polynesian tattoos were tribal tattoos in one form or another, though as the tribes spread out and separated, the tribal tattoos changed in style, design and color. These days, the Polynesian Tattoos still hold a great significance and popularity among the Polynesian people and fortunately for us, around the world as well.

The Polynesian people spread out across the South Pacific, many during times when there was no recorded history to speak of. Similarities in styles between some of the Polynesian tattoos, the Maori Tattoos and the Samoan tattoos and even the Hawaiian tattoos that are so common among the indigenous tribes in Hawaii give us good indicators that they did share a common ancestry.

Ocean tattoos were very popular among the early Polynesian tattoos given their love for and dependence upon the oceans for both travel and food. Dolphin tattoos, turtle tattoos and even tattoos of some of the smaller ocean dwelling creatures were common and in one form or another, many of these can still be seen in the Polynesian tattoos of today. The larger chest tattoos and back tattoos often included large scenes based on the oceans and ocean life and while these examples of Polynesian tattoos are not as common these days, they are still popular choices for many people who already have a wide selection of tattoos on their bodies.

The Polynesian Tattoos are still very popular today as are the maori tattoos and other types of tribal tattoos from the Southern Pacific regions. While the vast majority of these may include ocean tattoos, some of them do feature many of the creatures that lived on the Pacific Islands as well. Scorpions were not very common but they were well known and some of the tribal Shamans would have scorpion tattoos and tattoos of poisonous reptiles or other venomous creatures prominently displayed on their bodies as well.

The Maori Tattoos closely resemble a number of the Polynesian tattoos from the other regions of the South Pacific though these are generally more symmetrical in nature and in many ways, resemble modern art tattoos given their representation and the tattoo designs. Likewise, many of the Samoan Tattoos also bear a striking similarity to the many different styles of Polynesian tattoos that are still so common today. The Samoans and the Tongans are very well known for boasting very large and conspicuous tattoos all over their bodies but primarily as chest tattoos and back tattoos.

As time has passed, many of the original Polynesian tattoos have been mixed and blended in with other Asian Tattoos and tribal tattoos from all over the world. These new styles of Polynesian tattoos are unique in style and the tattoos design but they are still very similar to the older Polynesian tattoos in many different ways as well. Often featuring ocean life in the form of turtle tattoos, dolphin tattoos and even barracudas and others, the Polynesian tattoos of today bring together an elegant, yet traditional blend of the different South Pacific islands to give us new and exciting Polynesian tattoos that will probably last throughout the ages.