Why do Sith Lords like to have Tattoo's?

Most Sith Lords seem to like to have Sith Tattoo's, the question is why do they like to wear Tattoo's so much? Does the Sith tattoo help them to focus the Dark Side of the Force at all? One thing i read from an old Guide to the Star Wars Universe book was that Emperor Palpatine had designed portions of the Imperial Palace with ancient Sith Heirglyphs (dont know the exact spelling) because it helped him to focus the energies of the Dark Side of the force better, obviously some Sith Lords probably belived that too, unless the tattoo is simply reguarded by them as a sign of their total devotion to the dark side of the force and to identify them as being Sith Lords and dark side users on sight, as a visual threat to anyone that would dare oppose them that they are Sith Lords and will quickly destroy them easily.

 

The truth is, Sith Lords without tattoos frequently are picked on and bullied more often, according to a recent study.

Just look at poor Jacen.



And...
Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine have less visible, matching tattoos.

 

I believe its about showing their total and complete devotion to the Sith and their teachings. It probably also strikes fear into others. What I find odd is that the "One Sith" actually dye their skin red to look like the original Sith species (Darth Maul did it too). Never understood that.

 

The only Sith sect where tattoos are widespread is Krayt's, and this seems to be due, at least in part, to Krayt's cultural background.

In every other sect they're very rare.

 

Plus, getting full-body tattoos like that is a pretty painful process (probably more so than normal Tattooing, knowing the Sith), so it could also serve as a rite of passage and a test of conquering pain.

 

Maul got them to show his devotion to the darkside. the others are just being trendy. so i guess Maul is an OS, Original Sith.

*enter rap 'bout how they forgot about Maul*

 

So, sort of the same reason the Vong do?

Wonder if there's some kind of connection there (but probably not).

 

No, Maul was a gen-you-wine red Zabrak.

 

While I'm unsure about there being any direct Vong connection I've always wondered if getting tattooed is a bit like the Sith equivalent of sticking someone in the Embrace of Pain to break them. At least, the Tales comic where Maul is getting his done looked... painful.

 

I imagine that Palpatine was covered in Sith tattoos beneath his robes.

Mainly because someone else gave me that idea. I can't remember who, but I liked it a lot.

I want to see the ol' "Mark of the Dark Lord" return on a few foreheads, too. I miss that mark. (Even though it appears on everything from the "Old Republic" era)

 

When Maul first came on the scene all tatted up, my first reasoning was the same as what many warriors on earth get tattoos for...it hides bruises and wounds from opponents...and also has an intimidation factor.

So perhaps Sith take on the tats not only to frighten, but to mask weakness.

 

I'd be inclined to go along with the intimidation factor when it comes to Sith tattoo...especially in the case of Darth Nihl. In fact, I seem to remember that either Jan or John said something about Nihl having the tattoos to look basically like "death."

I also lean towards the idea of having tattoos as a rite of passage to conquer pain and suffering among the Sith.

 

I imagine Sith tattooing is far more like traditional tribal tattooing... a stick with a needle and pigment gets repeatedly hammered into the skin, rather than the use of a tattoo gun as we use now... or the apparently laser process that has been shown in-universe somewheres I can't currently recall.

Plus, tattoos are badass. Why wouldn't they want to get tattoos?

 

It's a dead giveaway as to who they are?

I mean seriously...why else did Maul have to run around hidden under 15lbs of robes.

Sith Tats = Sith...or at least wannabe Sith...same difference.

 

Honestly, with the tattoos I could *totally* see them being symbols of power in certain senses. In many ancient traditions (and plenty of other fantasy worlds), different tattoos were thought to grant different powers to the tattooed. Given that much of the Sith teachings are based off of ancient, archaic and still "spell-like" natured I can see where there may have been the ability to increase power via tattoos and a combination of Sith alchemy.

Granted, there is not one whit of canonical evidence to support that supposition that I am aware of, but it could certainly explain why so many of them are. Or, even now, if the alchemical portion has been lost, it may simply be tradition.

 

Could it be Jan really liked the look of Darth Maul and just decided to make it a trend?

jk.

Honestly though...the most powerful of the sith have not been tatooed.

Personally, with Maul and now the underlings of Krayt, I'm almost getting the vibe that the tats are a sign of servitude...their identity so meaningless that they mutilate and reshape their appearances to better serve the darkside and their master.

This of course falls out the window when one of the tattooed cronies of Krayt gets the intestinal fortitude to do him in and take the throne...but it's something I see just from the trend of darksiders with tats.

*side question: Did Malak have tatoo's around his prosthetics, or was that part of the prosthetic?*

 

Not sure what part of his prosthetic jaw you're referring to, but the two stripes on the top of his head are tattoos.

 

Counterpoint:

Exar Kun
Ulic Qel Droma
Naga Sadow

All were proud tattoo users.

Plus, there was definitely something surreal about Maarek Stele's tattoos.

 

bah...point conceded...but then I was thinking much more along the lines or elaborate full body numbers, not scratches to the forehead.

Even Anakin has little tats.

 

Contrary to popular belief (and...well...canon...), Vader was actually happy to be encased in full-body armor because one night, he got drunk with his then master, Obi-Wan Kenobi and woke up the next morning with the Little Lost Bantha Cub on his left butt cheek. Kenobi reportedly thought it was hilarious, but Anakin only proceeded to head down the emo path from then on.

 

Why did Jedi sport 15 lbs of robes too? It goes both ways. Besides, I don't think Sith tattoos were well known. People that are shown to have encountered Maul prior to TPM don't seem to see the tats as dead giveaways.

 

Besides, there's plenty of strange aliens with interesting skin patterns. I'm sure many thought him to simply be a member of a cult or "space-mafia". Or, just a punk with tattoos.

 

Every Sith needs to watch this public service announcement


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEmzIgfPGzY

 

What's your point, Chuck? Griff never said a full body Sith tattoo was a bad idea...or do they count as tribal designs?

And I know 10 years ago, the Sith were cool, and 10 years from now they're gonna be cool, so there goes Church's arguments. Therefore, Sith tattoos are awesome on both sides of the argument.