To paint the body and, including, the person’s face, as a “animal” herd and social, began from ancient times. Each tribe's ritual makeup was different, but it was done for the same purposes:
- Designation of tribal (family) affiliation;
- Defining and emphasizing one’s status within a tribe;
- Announcement of special achievements and merits;
- Designation of unique qualities and skills inherent in this individual.
- Determination of the occupation at the moment (military operations, hunting and supplying the tribe, reconnaissance, peace period, and so on).
- Obtaining magical or mystical protection to support their actions, both during the conduct of hostilities, and when participating in special rites.
In addition to coloring his own body (and a photo of the coloring of the Indian can be seen in our article), North American Indians drew the corresponding patterns on horses. And almost for the same purposes as on himself.
War paint of the Indians
As you can guess from the name, not only the graphics played a role in the color, but also the color, which meant different phenomena:
- Red is blood and energy. According to legend, he brought good luck and success in battle. In peacetime, he set off beauty and family happiness.
- Black - readiness for war, beating aggressiveness and strength. This color was a must when returning with a win.
- White - meant sorrow or peace. These two concepts were very close among the Indians.
- The intellectual elite of the tribe painted blue or green themselves: wise and enlightened, as well as people who can communicate with spirits and gods. The green color also carried data on the presence of harmony.
Access to the "warpath"
“A great day for death” - with this motto, the North American Indians met the news of the beginning of the military campaign and began to put on a military face painting. He confirmed the fierce courage and unwavering courage of the warrior, his status and past merits. He was to inspire terror to the enemy, including the defeated or captured, instill fear and despair in him, give magical and mystical protection to the wearer. Streaks on the cheeks confirmed that their master had repeatedly killed enemies. When applying war paint, factors were taken into account that not only frighten the enemy, but also provide additional protection, including camouflage.
The image of the palm could mean good hand-to-hand fighting skills or possession of a talisman, giving the wearer stealth and invisibility on the battlefield. The unequal, but the same type of war paint gave a sense of unity and kinship in the battle, as now - the modern army uniform. He also emphasized the status of a fighter, as insignia and an order today.
The combat color of the Indians was an effective means to raise their morale. He helped to cope with the fear of death, since it was necessary to die, like a hero, with a thirst for blood, overwhelming the heart. It was impossible to let him be filled with the fear of death and the desire to live, because this is a shame for a warrior.
Features of the military paint horses
After the ceremony of his color, if the Indian fought not on foot, went to the horses. Light paint smeared the horses of a dark suit, and animals of light colors with red paint. White circles at the horse's eyes were applied in order to improve their vision, and the places of injuries, as well as at home, were marked in red.
Symbolism
Almost every Indian from the very beginning of his youth thoroughly knew the peculiarities of the usual and military colors of both members of his tribe, and related and allied tribes, as well as all known enemies. Despite the fact that the meaning and meaning of the same symbol or combination of colors between different tribes at different times, could differ significantly, the Indians were well-versed in this almost endless sea of meanings, which caused genuine surprise and envy of the whites who came into contact with him. Some openly admired, but the majority of “white-skinned” hated the Indians more strongly for such qualities as fidelity to the word and an unwritten code of conduct, honesty and frankness in demonstrating their intentions by the Indians, which confirmed the military color on their faces.
An interesting fact: now there is a stable stereotype that the North American Indians received the nickname “redskins” for their skin color, supposedly having a reddish tint. In fact, their skin is a little yellowish and tinted a little light brown (in different tribes, especially those living far from each other, this shade may vary). But the term "redskins" arose and took root because of the coloring of the faces of the Indians, in which red prevailed.
We note one more curious fact. Only warriors who distinguished themselves in battle had the right to paint their wives.
The role of "pale-faced" in the implementation of the color
Naturally, the Indians, even before the appearance of the whites, with their capabilities on an industrial scale, to produce and, accordingly, supply someone with paints of any shades, applied war paint. The Indians knew different varieties of clay, soot, animal fat, charcoal and graphite, as well as dyes of plant origin. But with the advent of vagrant merchants in the tribes, as well as after the start of the visits of the Indians to the trading post, the only goods that could compete with alcohol (fire water) and weapons were paints.
The value of individual elements
Each element of the battle, and not only the coloring of the Indians necessarily meant something specific. Sometimes it is the same in different tribes, but more often it’s just very, very similar. In addition, being drawn separately, the pattern could mean one thing, and in conjunction with other elements of such “tattoos, ” something generalizing or clarifying, and in some cases the exact opposite. The value of the war paint of the Indians:
- The handprint on the face, as a rule, meant that the warrior was successful in hand-to-hand combat or a very good invisible scout. For women of their own or allied tribe, this element served as a guideline for reliable protection.
- The vertical red lines on the cheeks and above for many tribes meant the number of enemies killed. In some tribes, black horizontal stripes on one of the cheeks spoke of the same thing. And the vertical marks on the neck meant the number of combat fights.
- Some of the tribes painted their faces with black paint, in whole or in part, before the battle, and most of them after the victorious battle, before returning home.
- Very often, the area of the face around the eyes was painted over, or they circled in circles. Usually this meant that the enemy could not hide and the warrior would attack him and defeat with the help of spirits or magic.
- Traces of wounds were noted in red.
- Transverse lines on the wrist or hands meant a successful escape from captivity.
- On the hips, the color in parallel lines meant that the warrior fights on foot, and when crossed, in the equestrian.
Features
The Indians, as a rule, were very eager to emphasize all their achievements in the war paint, but did not ascribe to themselves superfluous, but switched from one status level to another only on the fact of victories, killings, the presence of scalps, recognition by fellow tribesmen and so on. The combat color of the Indians, at the same time, was inflicted to a minimum by young men who had just arrived at the appropriate age, as well as young soldiers who had not yet received the opportunity to distinguish themselves in combat fights. Otherwise, the spirits of their ancestors might not recognize their own and not provide them with the necessary help, or even worse.
The Indians, of course, were very well versed in the social hierarchy and knew their leaders, including the military. But this did not mean that the leaders did not emphasize their high status with clothing, headgear and military color. So, the image of the square indicated that its carrier is the leader of this military detachment.
Drawings in the form of heads of predatory animals
Separately, it must be said about tattoos or drawings with paints in the form of the heads of predatory animals, which were depicted on the head or body and which were very difficult to earn. In particular, they meant:
- coyote - trick;
- wolf - ferocity;
- bear - power and strength;
- eagle - courage and vigilance.
Subject to coloring were clothing items and military weapons. On the shields, if the warrior used it, there was a lot of space, and it was possible to apply not only the achievements that were already available, but those to which he sought. And by the sewing, decoration and coloring of moccasins, even a child could determine the tribal affiliation of its owner.
Military face painting
In our practical time and war paint, purely practical down-to-earth significance is attached. The military, including intelligence or special forces, must reduce the visibility of the face and exposed areas of the body, including the eyelids, ears, neck and arms. “Makeup” should also solve the important task of protecting against:
- Mosquitoes, midges and other insects, whether they are bloodsucking or not.
- Solar and other types of combat and (non-combat) burns.
A lot of time is devoted to the practice of applying camouflage makeup from improvised tools. As a rule, it should be two-tone and consist of parallel straight or wavy stripes. Earth, mud, ash or clay is the main element. In summer, you can use grass, juice, or parts of plants in summer, and in winter chalk or something similar to it. On the face there should be several zones (up to five). Makeup is imposed by the warrior himself and should be quite individual.
Children's color
The Indians' combat paint for children is now done very often, especially for boys. Therefore, having painted their face and stuck a feather of any bird in their hair, they chase each other cheerfully, waving a toy tomahawk and screaming loudly, by the method of rhythmic pressing of an open palm to their mouth. This makeup is great for children's carnivals and parties. Safe face painting perfectly imitates the military paint of the Indians from the photo of the original drawings and is easily washed off with soap and water.
