A Lecture and Video-Conference by Luc Renaut, Grenoble University

Thursday, January 25, 2017 4 p.m.-6 p.m. (Paris time) at the Ivry sur
Seine CNRS building, 27 rue Paul Bert, Porte de Choisy/Porte d’Ivry
subway station, room C in the basement or by distance through
video-conference

In the urbanized States of the Ancient Mediterranean Basin, free men
and women never had to be tattooed. In surrounding areas, however,
tattooing was deeply rooted and institutionnalised among quite a
significant number of human groups or tribes. In this regard, a
remarkable case study is provided by Ancient Nubia and Egypt, two
contrasted but intertwined neighbouring cultures that offer a vivid
picture recently enhanced by new discoveries. Even now, specialists do
not agree on the interpretation of the various archaeological and
anthropological remains related to tattoo practices. I propose to
clarify the issue in identifying two major types: a first one,
customary tattooing, which tends to cover the skin surface with
replicated geometrical patterns, and a second one, sub-cultural
tattooing, characterized by more isolated pictographic designs.
Through the study of these two tattooing practices, it will be shown
that, in ancient States of the Mediterranean Basin, the legal
authorities never considered human skin to be a suitable material for
registering positive rights and privileges.

This presentation constitutes the fifteenth monthly session of the
interdisciplinary seminar “The Individual and his Body in the Ancient
Mediterranean Basin” organized by Alice Mouton and supported by the
Labex RESMED and the UMR 8167 Orient et Mediterranee.

[www.orient-mediterranee.com]

[www.labex-resmed.fr]

All the persons who are interested in attending the session (either
in Ivry sur Seine or through video-conference) are welcome for free
but should register by e-mail beforehand.

contact: mailto:alice.mouton@cnrs.fr