During the early days of history, tattoo are used to symbolize ones rank in a group or a society. Just like for example the Maoris. A man or a woman's tattoo could not only identify their paternal and maternal lineage, but because Maori ‘ta moko’ was an ongoing practice, it also often revealed an individual’s political, social and military rank.
During the Early Roman historical references often noted that members of the "barbarian" nobility classes often displayed tattoos that signified their rank and family crests.
