logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2022
47m 56s

Tattoos

History Hit
About this episode

George V, Otzi the Iceman, possibly Winston Churchill and … Kate Lister. What do all these people have in common?


They have tattoos. As do a fifth of the population of the United Kingdom.


In this episode, Kate speaks to tattoo historian Matt Lodder about the origins of tattoos, their meanings and why certain stereotypes have become attached to them.


*WARNING there are naughty words and adult themes in this episode*


Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Aidan Lonergan.


Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.


For more History Hit content, subscribe to our newsletters here.

Up next
Today
Origins of Virginity
From luring in unicorns to protecting the Roman Empire, myths have surrounded virginity for centuries. But is virginity itself a myth?In this episode from the archive, Kate speaks to Anke Bernau about where the so-called cherry comes from, what it stands for and why it has been i ... Show More
49m 18s
Aug 22
How Hot Was Henry VIII?
With SIX wives, Henry VIII must have had something going for him, right? Was he handsome? Charming? Intelligent? Just plain powerful?In this episode, Kate is joined by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb, host of our sister podcast Not Just the Tudors. They discuss the vanity of Henry VI ... Show More
45m 27s
Aug 19
The Real Virgin Mary
Why has the idea of the Virgin Mary’s virginity been so important?What does this tell us about the relationship between Christianity and sex? And what else do we know about this woman?Joining Kate today to help her get to know more about Mary, her life and her influence is author ... Show More
42m 5s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2022
Tattoos
There are many common misconceptions and misunderstandings about Tattoos. They can act as a window into the social economic and cultural issues of a period of time. Britain was in fact the 'land of the painted people' with tattooing going further back into our history than many p ... Show More
27m 41s
May 2022
Tattoos
“As ancient as time, as modern as tomorrow.’ Why have tattoos been reinvented in so many cultures - and with so many different meanings - throughout history? And yet, tattooing is constantly portrayed as a new ‘thing’, when tattoos were just for criminals or sailors. Far from tru ... Show More
34m 58s
Jan 2023
Tattoos: a 5,000 year history
Throughout history, people have got tattooed for a huge range of reasons, whether religious devotion, artistic expression, or to demonstrate cultural belonging – or cultural difference. Dr Matt Lodder talks to Charlotte Hodgman about 5,000 years of tattooing history, exploring ev ... Show More
41m 2s
Aug 2022
Viking Sex
In this episode of Gone Medieval, presenter Dr. Cat Jarman swaps seats and becomes the guest of Dr. Kate Lister’s brilliant podcast from History Hit, Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. In it, she delves into the topics that they didn’t teach you about in h ... Show More
45m 40s
May 2023
Alexander The Great's Sex Life
This episode contains references and words of a sexual nature. Did Alexander the Great and the Queen of the Amazons really have sex for 13 days solid? What do we know about his male lovers? And how did his sex life stand up to that of his dad’s? Today, the guest is our very own T ... Show More
44m 56s
Jun 2023
The Picts
Emerging around the 3rd century CE and later designated official adversaries of the Roman Empire, the Picts wreaked havoc across the northern fringes of Roman Britain. But due to their limited presence in the archaeological record and the complexities of multiple kings, kingdoms, ... Show More
43m 10s
Nov 2023
Mary, Queen of Scots
This is the story of the incredible rise and fall of Mary, Queen of Scots. She was queen of Scotland, she was queen of France, and she could have been queen of England. She led armies, lived as a fugitive, became embroiled in love affairs and spent nearly two decades in jail. Dan ... Show More
41m 55s
Aug 2023
Sadism in the Bastille
TRIGGER WARNING: this episode contains references to sexual content. The Marquis de Sade, the namesake of "sadism," is famous for his writings cataloguing the full extent of brutal and abusive sexual acts. Today, he's perhaps more famous as a concept than an actual living, breath ... Show More
35m 9s
Apr 2022
Saint George
The 23rd of April marks Saint George's Day - but who are we actually celebrating? Is there any truth behind the myth of the man who slew the dragon and rescued the princess - and where does the Patron Saint of England actually come from? Spoiler alert - it's not where you think. ... Show More
1h 13m
Jun 2023
There’s Something About Mary, Queen of Scots: Part Four: The Jewelled Tortoise (With Allison Epstein)
This week, Mary, Queen of Scots hosts an eventful dinner party.Content warning: murder--References:Daughters of the North: Jean Gordon and Mary Queen of Scots by Jennifer Morag HendersonDavid Rizzio and Mary Queen of Scots: Murder at Holyrood by David TweedieEmbroidering Her Trut ... Show More
1h 51m