Based on imagery from authentic Mexican art and artifacts, these brilliantly colored temporary tattoos showcase the region's historical artistic variety. Four large tattoos depict the Mixtec God of Death, the Olmec Jaguar God, and intricate figures from a Mayan relief and an Aztec calendar.

Numerous primitive designs from early Mexican cultures are reproduced to demonstrate native decorative ingenuity and inspire modern artists and designers

Rich in mythology and art, the Aztec civilization dominated central Mexico during the fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth centuries. This handsome volume contains 42 pages of authentic Aztec designs derived from ceramics, statues, altars, shields, books, and other priceless artifacts. Gods, rulers, warriors, slaves, animals, and activities both secular and sacred are brilliantly rendered by Wilson G. Turner, a skilled artist/archaeologist and a specialist in pre-Columbian archaeology. Brief captions identify each image. Artists, designers, and illustrators will find in Aztec Designs a wealth of ideas and inspiration for a myriad of projects. Colorists will enjoy adding their own conceptions of color to these ancient motifs.

The human desire to adorn the body is universal and timeless. While specific forms of body decoration and the motivations for them vary by region, culture, and era, all human societies have engaged in practices designed to augment and enhance people’s natural appearance. Tattooing, the process of inserting pigment into the skin to create permanent designs and patterns, is one of the most widespread forms of body art and was practiced by ancient cultures throughout the world, with tattoos appearing on human mummies by 3200 BCE. Ancient Ink, the first book dedicated to the archaeological study of tattooing, presents new, globe-spanning research examining tattooed human remains, tattoo tools, and ancient art. Connecting ancient body art traditions to modern culture through Indigenous communities and the work of contemporary tattoo artists, the volume’s contributors reveal the antiquity, durability, and significance of body decoration, illuminating how different societies have used their skin to construct their identities.

Characterizes ancient Mexican art through black-and-white reproductions of original motifs discovered in archaeological digs

The definitive textbook on the archaeology and history of Mesoamerica

Tattoos have moved into the mainstream and are continuing to grow in popularity. For people contemplating getting a tattoo, however, the choice of images can be overwhelming. THE TATTOO ENCYCLOPEDIA provides a comprehensive and informative exploration of the colourful world of tattoos. It presents precise descriptions of both common and unusual symbols and sheds light on their historic, religious and cultural significance. Organised in a convenient A-Z format, cross-referenced, indexed and illustrated with 300 pieces of authentic tattoo line art, the book features a stunning array of images from ancient Buddhist and Chinese designs to those sported by twenty-first century bikers. Whether choosing a personally significant tattoo, wanting to learn more about a symbol, or simply interested in tattoos as a form of art and body decoration, readers will discover the richness of tattoo culture in this treasury.