Roman Legionary Tattoos

• Vegetius writing in the 4th century CE, wrote that every new Legionary soldier was obliged to have a tattoo.
• Vegetius says the tattoo was worn on the hand, but does not describe what it looked like. It may have been the Legion’s number or it may have depicted an eagle.

History

• Herodotus (c.484-c.420 BCE)
  • He described Histiaeus, the Tyrant of Miletus (died 494 BCE), who shaved the head of his most loyal slave, tattooed the plan of how to conduct a revolt, allowed his hair to regrow, then sent him away. On arrival, his head was shaved, the plan of how to conduct a revolt was read and successfully carried out.
• Constantine I (307-337 CE)
  • In c.325 CE, he decreed that Gladiators and men condemned to work in the mines must wear a tattoo.
• Aetius of Amida (6th century CE)
  • A Roman Physician writing in the 6th century CE confirmed soldiers wore a tattoo.
  • He also described the process for applying and removing a tattoo.
• The Ban on Tattoos (787 CE)
  • In 787 CE Pope Hadrian I banned all tattoos and they became unknown in Western Europe.