DEQ · Special editionHome← All DEQ storiesStory 2 of 4
A seated stone figure, the opening art of the article in the printed DEQOpening art · DEQ, p. 28
DEQ · Glossary

Mesopotamian Gods' Role in Traditional Tattoosتوظيف رموز آلهة بلاد الرافدين في الوشم التقليدي

Eleven signs carried from temple walls and cylinder seals onto the skin of Iraqi women and men. Each one shown twice: as the ancients made it, and as it is still tattooed.

11 symbolsAncient & on the body16 min to read in full
Research & textAmmar M. Al-TaeeIllustrationsThualfaqar HatemTranslationDina Alsafi
The eleven symbolsChoose one to jump to it

Creditsفريق العمل

DEQ is the result of a ten-month field research project, “The Traditional Tattoos of Babylon, Iraq: Documenting and Preserving a Threatened Heritage”, led by The Academic Research Institute in Iraq (TARII) and funded by the British Council’s Cultural Protection Fund.

Researcher and main investigator
Ammar M. Al-Taee
Artist
Thualfaqar Hatem
Translator
Dina Alsafi
Photographers
Wisam Mutwak
Abbas Raad
Field team
Angham Salim
Karar Hussain
Mohammed Ayad
Shams Hussain
Zahra Al-Saddam
Project manager
Lanah Haddad
Consultant
Caroline Sandler
Lead organisation
The Academic Research Institute in Iraq (TARII)
Editor in chief
Aymen Al-Ameri
Creative director & design
Meena Alyassin
Publisher
Henna Magazine