Temporary tattooing with henna is a 5000 years old tradition originating from Pakistan, India, Africa and the Middle East. Ancient Egyptians were one of the earliest to use it as a body paint as the henna was their native plant. Applying henna was part of the ritual preparation for the afterlife and we found many mummies that have their fingernails covered with henna. From there it arrived to India and it was used there since 700 AD. It was known in the late Bronze Age in the eastern Mediterranean where young women painted their bodies with it during social and holiday celebrations. When Akrotiri (Santorini) was excavated (dating from before 1680 BC), wall paintings found showed women with markings on their nails, palms and soles. Statuettes of young women found along the Mediterranean coastline that date between 16th and 6th century BC also show markings on palms that look like henna tattoos. Bodhisattvas and deities of cave wall murals at Ajanta, India date between 4th - 5th century and also show that henna was used then in India as a body paint.
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