The word, 'branding' indicates a mark made by burning or otherwise. Such a brand may signify ownership. Some societies used brands to mark criminals to disgrace and stigmatize them. The mark itself may be either burned or frozen into the flesh or impregnated into the skin using special needles and indelible inks. This is a tattoo, and in Latin means 'stigma.'
The first example of a human brand is recorded in the Bible, Genesis 4:15, where the Lord placed His protective mark on Cain. The Lord wanted to make sure no one harmed Cain as he embarked on his new life in the Land of Nod.
The Ancient Greeks (Ninth Century B. C. - Sixth Century A. D.) branded slaves with the letter, 'Delta', to indicate that they were 'dolous' or slaves. Similarly, Ancient Romans (Tenth Century B. C. - Fourth Century A. D.) applied the letters, 'FUG' to runaway slaves, meaning 'fugitivus', or 'runaway'. An entire class of Fugitivarii emerged who earned their keep by capturing runaway slaves and returning them to their owners. The Romans similarly marked thieves with the letters, 'FUR', for 'fure', meaning, 'thief, ' or 'CV, ' meaning 'cave furem', or 'beware the thief.'
More recent civilizations also employed branding as a means of both punishing and humiliating criminals. In the 1600s, Puritans in North America would impregnate the letter 'A' into the flesh of men and women who committed acts of adultery. Canadian military prisons would affix the letter 'D' to deserters or 'BC' to indicate 'bad character' before shipping miscreants to penal colonies. Deserters were similarly branded during the American Civil War (1861-1865).
Curiously, the French adopted the practice of identifying criminals by branding with the 'fleurs de lys'. This is curious because the symbol also marked the baton conferred upon the French field marshall in battle. Today, the fleur de lis adorns the battle headgear of the American Football Team, the New Orleans Saints.
In modern times, human branding techniques are less brutal and are now worn more voluntarily as a symbol of belonging or as a personal or fashion statement. More likely brands are affixed using indelible inks implanted under the dermis level of the skin with the us of specialised needles (the tattoo). Other, less permanent, methods of applying tattoos have emerged.
It is not uncommon for soldiers on leave to return to their posts bearing tattoos of their wives, mothers, girlfriends, or a special mark identifying them with their regiment. In an episode of 'The West Wing, ' an itinerant veteran, overcome by the icy elements of a Washington winter, was identified as having served in Korea by virtue of the tattoo that he bore on his arm. Tattoos form an important part of modern subcultures like the Twentieth Century Goth movement. Henna tattoos are also popular amongst religious groups and revellers at modern music festivals like 'Glastonbury' or 'T in the Park'.
The first example of a human brand is recorded in the Bible, Genesis 4:15, where the Lord placed His protective mark on Cain. The Lord wanted to make sure no one harmed Cain as he embarked on his new life in the Land of Nod.
The Ancient Greeks (Ninth Century B. C. - Sixth Century A. D.) branded slaves with the letter, 'Delta', to indicate that they were 'dolous' or slaves. Similarly, Ancient Romans (Tenth Century B. C. - Fourth Century A. D.) applied the letters, 'FUG' to runaway slaves, meaning 'fugitivus', or 'runaway'. An entire class of Fugitivarii emerged who earned their keep by capturing runaway slaves and returning them to their owners. The Romans similarly marked thieves with the letters, 'FUR', for 'fure', meaning, 'thief, ' or 'CV, ' meaning 'cave furem', or 'beware the thief.'
More recent civilizations also employed branding as a means of both punishing and humiliating criminals. In the 1600s, Puritans in North America would impregnate the letter 'A' into the flesh of men and women who committed acts of adultery. Canadian military prisons would affix the letter 'D' to deserters or 'BC' to indicate 'bad character' before shipping miscreants to penal colonies. Deserters were similarly branded during the American Civil War (1861-1865).
Curiously, the French adopted the practice of identifying criminals by branding with the 'fleurs de lys'. This is curious because the symbol also marked the baton conferred upon the French field marshall in battle. Today, the fleur de lis adorns the battle headgear of the American Football Team, the New Orleans Saints.
In modern times, human branding techniques are less brutal and are now worn more voluntarily as a symbol of belonging or as a personal or fashion statement. More likely brands are affixed using indelible inks implanted under the dermis level of the skin with the us of specialised needles (the tattoo). Other, less permanent, methods of applying tattoos have emerged.
It is not uncommon for soldiers on leave to return to their posts bearing tattoos of their wives, mothers, girlfriends, or a special mark identifying them with their regiment. In an episode of 'The West Wing, ' an itinerant veteran, overcome by the icy elements of a Washington winter, was identified as having served in Korea by virtue of the tattoo that he bore on his arm. Tattoos form an important part of modern subcultures like the Twentieth Century Goth movement. Henna tattoos are also popular amongst religious groups and revellers at modern music festivals like 'Glastonbury' or 'T in the Park'.
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