Scythian Chieftain

Discovered in a tomb south of modern day Kiev, the Scythian Chieftain is a well preserved mummy who is significant primarily due to his many intrinsic tattoos that cover the majority of his upper body and lower right leg. Although he was properly embalmed and spent over 2000 years in a freezing environment, much of his body has decayed over time since his discovery and examination was made before the invention of proper refrigeration techniques. Remnants of his body and skin that show many elaborate tattooed designs however still exist today.

His body featured many zoomorphic designs that covered his shoulders, arms, lower right leg and his chest and back of animals such as rams, birds and deer, similar designs that are shared with many tattooed Scythian remains. What is special about the Chieftains tattoos however is that he has two colums of simple dot tattoos trailing down his back along his spinal region, which could indicate a therapeutic element was incorporated in the tattooing, such simple tattoos are also observable on Otzi the ancient iceman that was discovered in the Alps in Austria.

Due to his deteriorated condition, a cause of death has never been established nor has his exact age of death.

Tattoo designs

Chieftains tattoos along his right arm

Tattoo designs