Tattoo

A tattoo is a permanent design marked on skin using inked needles. Tattoos are a common style of body modification used among humans. Humanity's interest in body art dates back to their prehistoric civilization, when military officers were adorned with white facial markings very reminiscent of tattoos. Some groups in the ancient civilization's regressed remnants used scarification in lieu of tattoos, with religious meaning attached to the carved markings. Other decorative and noninvasive body markings are also made using body paint or make-up. While facial paint is sometimes used for fashion, it could also be used to mark one's social status or serve as war paint when going into battle.

Tattoos of organizations
Tattoos are often used to promote bonding between members of a certain group.

ODSTs
Tattoos are frequently displayed with pride by the Orbital Drop Shock Troopers. Melissa McKay wore a tattoo of a skull and the letters "ODST" on her bicep. Cadmon Lasky also got a tattoo of the ODST emblem on his back while he was at Jericho VII. Jacob Keyes, while not an ODST, was given an ODST tattoo of the kanji symbol for either "bastard" or "bad ass", as the meaning differs depending on who is asked.

Keepers of the One Freedom
Human members of the Keepers of the One Freedom have tattoos around on their arms. A favorite tattoo symbol among the Human Keepers was a celestial highway.

Kelorists
The Kelorists of Mamore mark members with a tattoo of a cross within a circle.

Fraternities
Members of fraternities such as Sigma Chi are known to wear tattoos to signify their involvement. One such tattoo ended up blowing the cover of an ONI sent to test Rani Sobeck.

Prison tattoos
Human convicted criminals were marked with a prison barcode tattoo across the triceps of their arms.

Individual tattoos
Tattoos can also be personal decorations of individual persons.


 * 'Drem, an ancient Ussan Sangheili, had runic tattoos on his neck.
 * Dominique had a Bessel function tattooed around his wrist.
 * Jun-A266, a SPARTAN-III, wore a tattoo of a fist grasping three arrows on the left side of his head.
 * Michael Horrigan had a wolf's head tattooed on his left bicep.
 * Morgan Kinsano has tattoos going down across the left side of her face and on her chin.
 * Myras Tyla had ornate tattoos on her head, face, and front torso.
 * Hamish Beamish wore a tattoo of a plain Scottish thistle.
 * An Unidentified corporal had the words "cut here" tattooed around her neck.

List of appearances

 * Halo: The Fall of Reach
 * Halo: The Flood
 * i love bees
 * Halo: Uprising
 * Halo: The Cole Protocol
 * Halo: Evolutions
 * The Mona Lisa
 * Halo: Reach
 * Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn
 * Halo: Initiation
 * Halo: Broken Circle
 * Halo: Nightfall
 * Halo: New Blood
 * Halo: Fractures
 * The Ballad of Hamish Beamish
 * Halo Wars 2
 * Halo: Retribution

Internal

 * Mark of Shame