The Ancient Tattooed Mummies & Why You Should Probably Get Mummified Too**
- andrew parker
- May 26
- 2 min read
Updated: May 27

So, you’ve spent years (and probably thousands of dollars) collecting tattoos—only for them to, y’know, *rot away* when you die. Seems unfair, right? Well, here’s a thought: **What if you pulled an Ötzi and got yourself mummified?** That way, future archaeologists can dig you up, unwrap your crispy remains, and be like, *“Damn, this guy had a sick sleeve back in 2024.”*
Turns out, the ancients were way ahead of us. They weren’t just preserving bodies for the afterlife—they were making sure their ink *lasted forever.* And honestly? Goals.
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## **Meet the OGs of Tattooed Mummies**
### **Ötzi the Iceman (3300 BCE)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%96tzi – The Original Tatted Grandpa**
Found frozen in the Alps with **61 tattoos**, this dude wasn’t just flexing—he was basically using them as **Stone Age acupuncture** for his bad joints. Imagine explaining *that* to your artist: *“Yeah, just slap some lines on my lower back… for medical reasons.”*
### **The Gebelein Mummies https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gebelein_predynastic_mummies– Flexing Since 3000 BCE**
One of these Egyptian mummies has a **giant bull tattoo** on his arm. Was it a symbol of strength? A tribute to his favorite steak? We’ll never know. But if future humans dig me up, I hope they assume my car tattoo *also* deeply spiritual.
### **Amunet, Priestess of Hathor https://www.ees.ac.uk/resource/project-amunet.html#:~:text=Discovered%20in%20early%201891%20by,to%20an%20in%2Ddepth%20examination– Ancient Baddie**
This Egyptian queen had **dotted tattoos** all over her belly and thighs. Scholars think they were for fertility, but let’s be real—she probably just had a dope artist and wanted to show off.
### **The Pazyryk Mummies https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pazyryk_burials– Siberian Tattoo Legends**
These nomadic warriors had **full-on animal sleeves**—stags, griffins, you name it. If they had Instagram, their #tatttootuesday posts would’ve gone *viral.*
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## **Why Did They Do It? (Besides Looking Cool)**
- **Medical Reasons** – Ötzi’s tats might’ve been early pain management. (*“Yeah bro, my back hurts—just blast some lines on it.”*)
- **Religious Vibes** – Egyptian priestesses inked up for the gods. (*“Hathor loves a good thigh piece.”*)
- **Pure aesthetic – The Scythians basically had **ancient battle tats** to intimidate enemies. (*“Oh, you have a wolf tattoo? Cute. Mine’s a demon elk.”*)
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## **The Real Question: Should *You* Get Mummified?**
Think about it:
✅ Your tattoos will outlast your iPhone backups.
✅ Future humans will debate whether your American Traditional sleeve was *ceremonial.*
✅ You’ll confuse archaeologists for centuries.
Downside? Modern mummification isn’t exactly cheap (or legal in most places). But hey, if a bunch of guys in 3000 BCE could do it, why can’t we?
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**Final Thought:** The next time someone says your tattoos won’t last forever, hit ‘em with the facts. **Some mummies held onto their ink for 5,000 years.** Now *that’s* commitment.
🔥 **Would you mummify yourself to preserve your tattoos?** Drop your hot takes below! 🔥
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**#MummyInk #TattoosForTheAfterlife #ÖtziWasCoolerThanYou #AncientTattooGoals**
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