Difference between revisions of "Tattoo"

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[[File:German Nobile kraken tattoo.png|A [[House Greyjoy]] deckhand with a [[kraken]] tattoo. © FFG|thumb|350px|right]]
 
A '''tattoo''' is made by inserting indelible ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment.  Tattooing is more popular in [[Essos]] than [[Westeros]], [[slave]]s are tattooed in some of the [[Free Cities]], especially on their faces.  
 
A '''tattoo''' is made by inserting indelible ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment.  Tattooing is more popular in [[Essos]] than [[Westeros]], [[slave]]s are tattooed in some of the [[Free Cities]], especially on their faces.  
  

Revision as of 02:13, 6 May 2016

A House Greyjoy deckhand with a kraken tattoo. © FFG

A tattoo is made by inserting indelible ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment. Tattooing is more popular in Essos than Westeros, slaves are tattooed in some of the Free Cities, especially on their faces.

It is custom in Volantis to have the faces of slaves tattooed, to mark their status.[1][2][3] It also prevents slaves escaping on the constant flow of ships. Such tattoos are often designed to reveal the slaves role. This custom is similarly practised in the cities under the control of Volantis, like Selhorys.[4]

Known slave tattoos of Volantis include:

  • Squares of motley, from neck to scalp: fools and jesters.[1][3]
  • A wheel tattooed upon one cheek: driver of an hathay.[1][2]
  • A mask of blue feathers.[1]
  • A lightning bolt that ran from jaw to brow.[1]
  • A coin upon the cheek.[1]
  • A leopard's spots.[1]
  • A skull.[1]
  • A jug.[1]
  • Flies on the cheeks: slaves collecting elephant and horse dung.[1][5]
  • Flames across the cheeks: members of the Fiery Hand.[6]
  • Flames across the cheeks, chin and forehead: priests of the faith of R'hllor.[5][7][8][9]
  • A horsehead on the cheek: workers in stables.[5]
  • Tiger stripes, green as jade, across the cheeks: slave soldiers.[1][5][4]
  • A single tear beneath the right eye: prostitutes.[1][5][4]
  • A cog's figurehead upon one cheek: slaves bound to a ship.[7]

Ex-slaves sometimes remove their tattoos. Scar tissue covers the cheeks of the widow of the waterfront, from where she had the slave tattoos cut off upon being freed. Ser Marq Mandrake has a hole in one cheek where a slaver’s mark had been burned away.

Some tattooed characters

  • Benerro - slave tattoo's of flames cover his cheeks, chin and shaven head.
  • Patchface – his face is tattooed in motley. [3]
  • Webber - is decorated with spider tattoos. [10]
  • Sunset girl - tears tattooed beneath one eye. [4]
  • Cragorn – his broad chest tattooed with a bird of prey.
  • Steelskin - his cheeks, brow, chest and arms are covered with intricate tattoos in green and black, ancient Valyrian sorcerer's signs.
  • Tiger Cloaks - have green tiger stripes tattooed across their cheeks.
  • Slave of R'hllor - have tattooed flames on their cheeks and forehead.
  • Shadow Men - known for covering their bodies in tattoos.[11]

References and Notes