WHETHER HEARTS OR SNAKES, TATTOOS MAKE A STATEMENT

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, January 27, 1992                   TAG: 9201270031
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: EXTRA 3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short
WHETHER HEARTS OR SNAKES, TATTOOS MAKE A STATEMENT
Tattoos, derived from the Tahitian "ta-tu," meaning body decoration, have left their mark on man.
The ancient Mayans considered them the pinnacle of beauty, but evidence of the first tattoos dates to the Ice Age when cave dwellers painted their skin to terrify their enemies. Which might explain why seamen and motorcycle gangs of a more modern age took to the stylus.
Celebrities currently sporting tattoos include Madonna, Julia Roberts, Bruce Springsteen, Susan Sarandon and Mickey Rourke.
Through history, tattoos have graced royal hides. Many of the crowns of Europe had them, including Edward VII, King George V, Czar Nicholas II, King Oscar of Sweden, Kaiser Wilhelm and Prince George of Greece.
Sir Winston Churchill's mother, Lady Randolph, had a snake tattooed on her wrist.
Even President Kennedy is said to have had a tattoo, a product of his U.S. Navy tour during World War II, that was removed at his wife's request after they moved into the White House.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB