Tattoo History - Pope Hadrian I.
Pope Hadrian I.
In the year 787, at a point in time when the Christendom flooded all Europe, it was Pope Hadrian I. who prohibited skin decoration of any kind. Not only because it disfigured the earthly image of god, like it was the view of the roman emperor Constantine The Great in 313, but also because it was associated with superstition and heathendom.
His successors kept up the prohibition over the next centuries and infringement was persecuted merciless by the church. Until today the burning of witches and the inquisition are still an aching memory.
Know your history better than we do? Then let us know and e-mail us any additions you might have. If you know about an important event or a person influencing tattoo history that we missed out on... we wanna know about it too!
