Christian tattooing in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Encyclopedia
Christian tattooing in Bosnia and Herzegovina was a widespread custom among members of the Croatian Roman Catholic community during the Turkish occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
(1463–1878) and up until the 20th century.
who kidnapped
them during Ottoman occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, while Croatian women were tattoo
ed in hopes of protecting themselves from being taken away by Turkish men into captivity. Tattooing became widespread after the Ottomans would take children into captivity and send them to Turkey
where they were trained to be soldier
s or servants.
Even today Croatian women in some parts of Bosnia (and Herzegovina
) tattoo their hands with Christian symbols
and stechak
ornaments. This very old custom, used exclusively among Catholic Christians, had a special meaning in the period of the Ottoman
occupation. This type of custom has been common throughout history: one example is the Greek historian Strabo
(1st century BC) who mentions tattooing among inhabitants of this area, along with another that it is an old Illyria
n custom. Archaeologist Ćiro Truhelka
researched these types of tattoos in the late 19th century, becoming one of the first to write about and to illustrate them on paper.
Bosnian Catholic Croats tattoo their hands and other visible parts of body with Christian symbols (usually with a small cross), like brow, cheeks, wrist, or below neck. This can be seen even today, not only in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but among Bosnian Croat women living abroad.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
(1463–1878) and up until the 20th century.
Origins
Croats would tattoo their children in order to save them from TurksOttoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
who kidnapped
Kidnapping
In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority...
them during Ottoman occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, while Croatian women were tattoo
Tattoo
A tattoo is made by inserting indelible ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment. Tattoos on humans are a type of body modification, and tattoos on other animals are most commonly used for identification purposes...
ed in hopes of protecting themselves from being taken away by Turkish men into captivity. Tattooing became widespread after the Ottomans would take children into captivity and send them to Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
where they were trained to be soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
s or servants.
Even today Croatian women in some parts of Bosnia (and Herzegovina
Herzegovina
Herzegovina is the southern region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. While there is no official border distinguishing it from the Bosnian region, it is generally accepted that the borders of the region are Croatia to the west, Montenegro to the south, the canton boundaries of the Herzegovina-Neretva...
) tattoo their hands with Christian symbols
Christian symbolism
Christian symbolism invests objects or actions with an inner meaning expressing Christian ideas. Christianity has borrowed from the common stock of significant symbols known to most periods and to all regions of the world. Religious symbolism is effective when it appeals to both the intellect and...
and stechak
Stecak
The Stećci , are monumental medieval tombstones that lie scattered across Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the border parts of Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia. An estimated 60,000 are found within the borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the rest of 10,000 are found in Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro...
ornaments. This very old custom, used exclusively among Catholic Christians, had a special meaning in the period of the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
occupation. This type of custom has been common throughout history: one example is the Greek historian Strabo
Strabo
Strabo, also written Strabon was a Greek historian, geographer and philosopher.-Life:Strabo was born to an affluent family from Amaseia in Pontus , a city which he said was situated the approximate equivalent of 75 km from the Black Sea...
(1st century BC) who mentions tattooing among inhabitants of this area, along with another that it is an old Illyria
Illyria
In classical antiquity, Illyria was a region in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula inhabited by the Illyrians....
n custom. Archaeologist Ćiro Truhelka
Ciro Truhelka
Ćiro Truhelka was a Croatian archaeologist.Truhelka finished grade school and gymnasium in Osijek and went to university in Zagreb. He was the first custodian of the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
researched these types of tattoos in the late 19th century, becoming one of the first to write about and to illustrate them on paper.
Bosnian Catholic Croats tattoo their hands and other visible parts of body with Christian symbols (usually with a small cross), like brow, cheeks, wrist, or below neck. This can be seen even today, not only in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but among Bosnian Croat women living abroad.