Recognising Thracians: Tattoos as an Ethnic Marker

Introduction: Marking the North in the Greek TraditionRecognising Thracians: Tattoos as an Ethnic Marker Presenting the ThraciansThe Thracians formed a distinct and multifaceted group in the ancient Greek imagination, frequently appearing in both literary and artistic sources.10 Their unique position as a northern neighbour to the Greek world allowed for rich cultural interactions, which were both complex and multifaceted.The Greeks encountered the Thracians through trade, colonisation, alliances, and military conflicts, leading to a nuanced understanding of their neighbours.The relationship between Greeks and Thracians can be traced back to the Mycenaean period.11 However, it was intensified notably with the Greek colonisation of the area from the eighth century BCE onward, encompassing clear contacts and interrelations through cultural, social, and economic interconnections.This period -especially during the seventh and sixth centuries BCE -saw the establishment of Greek colonies along the Thracian coast, stretching from the Aegean Sea to the Black Sea. 12 These colonies not only reinforced geographical proximity but also shaped Greek perceptions of Thracians, providing a basis for their depiction as a northern 'other.'Interestingly, the geographical perception of these colonies varied depending on one's vantage point.From the perspective of the Greek mainland, these northern territories were seen as the edge of the known world -a frontier that represented both opportunities and threats.Conversely, from the Thracian perspective, these Greek settlements were situated in their southern territories, thus creating a dynamic interplay of perceptions.That is, the same locations were viewed differently depending on whether one was observing from the south, within the context of the Northern Aegean, or from the north, within Thrace itself.The Greek portrayal of the inhabitants of Thrace, namely the Thracians, both male and female, and consequently the Greek perspective is vividly reflected in various literary and visual sources.Since the Thracians did not have their own writing system and were for the most part a non-literate society, they did not leave behind native historical records from the period of our interest here.Therefore, much of our understanding of the Thracians comes from Greek and later Roman authors.13 One of the earliest references to the Thracians appears in Homer's poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey, which provide some information on the land and its people offering glimpses as well into Greek interactions with the region of Thrace already back in the Bronze Age. 14 The Homeric poems present a variety of information for those northern neighbours of Greeks, who were allies of the Trojans.In these texts, the Thracians are depicted as fierce warriors known for their horsemanship.The figure of King Rhesus, with his mythological exploits, blurs the line between legend and historical reality.Homer also mentions the Thracian priest of Apollo, Maron, and the famous local wine, oinos Ismarikos (οἶνος Ἰσμαρικός), providing insight into Thracian religious practices, goods produced in the Thracian land and economic activities.15 10