Значение и символика берберских татуировок Магриба

Stepanova A. V.

The long-standing tradition of tattooing plays a significant rôle in the Berber culture in the countries of Maghreb. Although the tattooing according to Islamic authorities is prohibited in the Holy Qur'an, the Muslim communities of Northern Africa took a different view regarding this issue. Tattooing became an important part of the Berber popular culture due to the local beliefs in the power of sacred symbols as well as that in the baraka (the belief in the sacred and blessing powers inherent in living and non-living objects). The process of tattooing itself, the actual tattoos, the pigments, the instruments used, such as needles, etc., were believed to have the power to affect the lives of people, protect them from the evil eye, the vicissitudes of fate and evil spirits (genies). The tradition of tattooing is restricted to the female part of the Northern African traditional societies. They can be applied almost exclusively to the females and by the females. They comprise a system of specific signs, which are thought to be instrumental for transmitting wisdom and experience from one generation to another. The article provides a study of major symbols, techniques used to apply them to human skin and their meanings of the Amazigh tattoos.

Keywords: символизм, Северная Африка, symbols, North Africa, берберы, Магриб, Berbers, Tattoos, Maghreb, Татуировки

In book

Письменные памятники Востока

Вып. 39. , Наука, 2019.