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Deliah Blue tattooing a black skull on Cade Skywalker's arm.
- "Please tell me that all that stuff will wash out of your hair."
"It will. But the tattoos are permanent."
"Tattoos?" - ―Myri Antilles startling her father
A tattoo was a permanent insertion of ink[2][3] or pigments[4][5] below the skin using a sharp needle.[2] A number of beings had tattoos, normally for cosmetic reasons or as part of their culture or an organization.
Tattooing was also used as a common identification or branding of slaves. One example was the slave trade planet Orvax IV. The Togorian Mezgraf, a former slave of this planet, had his slaver's mark on his right shoulder, still visible through his white fur, and would often wear a long-sleeved jacket to cover it.[6]
A tattooist, or tattoo artist, was a person who drew tattoos on people's skin as a job. Notable examples were Bojam Rees, who made a living as a tattooist on Starstation 12,[7] and the male Lafrarian Nuyu, a tattoo artist and body decorator who ran a small shop on StarForge Station.[8] The Blue Sector of Corellia's capital Coronet hosted a high proportion of tattoo parlors.[9][10]
During the Clone Wars, under the direction of the Jedi, clone troopers were encouraged to adopt their own individual identities. They distinguished themsemselves from each other by choosing nicknames for themselves, getting tattoos, customizing their armor and their hairstyles.[11]
"Tatooine Tattoo" was shipjacker slang for "price on your head" (Jabba the Hutt level).[12] Tattoos could be concealed with synthskin.[13]
Notable cultures[]
A'mari[]
The A'mari were the former ruling clan of Malano III. They were marked with a black tattoo across their neck.[14]
Aquellans[]
The planet Aquella was notable for the Human males' ritual tattooing and dyeing on their bodies upon reaching adulthood.[15] A combination of permanent dye and micro-tattooing was applied during rite of passage ceremonies, and the resulting purplish-green skin made them look like a race of Near-Humans.[16]
Bk'trugh clan[]
The Bk'trugh clan was a Gamorrean clan whose members could be recognized by a tattoo on their arms.[17]
The Blood Carver Ko Vakier with tattoos on his nose flaps.
Blood Carvers[]
The Blood Carvers sported tribal tattoos along the ridge of their nose flaps.[18]
Bomu Clan[]
- "I know the clan. Bomu family. I recognize the facial tattoos."
- ―Reen Irana
The Bomu Clan was an extended family of Rodian mercenaries. Each member was marked with a tattoo of the clan's family symbol as soon as she or he was old enough to hold a blaster carbine.[20]
Bosphs[]
The Bosph stood out from other tattooed cultures by their unusual motif: star maps. The first Bosphs were nomads, and would often tattoo themselves with maps and star charts for navigation. This tradition is still practiced by high-ranking officials and many non-ranking Bosphs. When the species was discovered by scouts several decades before the Battle of Yavin, the Bosphs who took to the stars developed the tradition further by having their skin adorned with intricate star maps, which often depicted star systems and planets not yet discovered by even professional scouts.[21]
Dantari[]
Seven years after the Battle of Endor, refugees from Eol Sha made a new home on Dantooine, the homeworld of the Dantari, only to be wiped out by Imperial Admiral Daala. To the primitive Dantari, the arrival of Daala's forces was an event of unprecedented awe, and they began incorporating Imperial symbology into their belief systems. As part the new tradition, the Dantari tattooed themselves with Imperial symbols; Imperial crests, AT-ATs, blaster rifles, and in the case of the truly brave, full body depictions of stormtrooper armor.[18]
Duhma[]
The Duhma species identified themselves through their tribal tattoos of a unique pattern. The former Imperial Colonel Abal Karda had his face tattooed with their symbol, as part of a disguise to avoid being captured for the bounty placed on his head.[7]
Ebranite[]
The Ebranite social structures were based on family and clan units. Each clan, or thilda, had a unique identifying insignia. This insignia was a source of pride and honor, and any insult directed to the clan insignia was viewed as an insult to the clan itself, and to each and every clan member of that clan. Every Ebranite had their clan's insignia tattooed on the uppermost left arm at birth, and remained loyal to their respective clans until death.
In the past millennia, the Ebranite society was plagued with clan warfare, but as their society slowly evolved, many clans would cooperate for mutual advancement. It became increasingly more common to find several clans living together, and children were now given a new clan insignia symbolizing the unity of several clans.[18][22]
Falleen[]
Some groups of Falleen had clan or loyalty tattoos on their bodies.[23]
Gorothite[]
The Gorothite had several wattles beneath their chins, which they decorated with complex, helical tattoos of bright color. The tattoos denoted ancestry and status within their society, and also identified to which j'ber (a kind of clan or extended family) an individual belonged. Most Gorothite couldn't understand how offworlder could be insensitive to these fine gradations of status.[24]
Quinlan Vos with yellow Kiffar tattoos on his face and left arm.
Gree[]
The Gree decorated their long foreheads with hieroglyphic tattoos which indicated rank and caste.[25]
Kiffar[]
- "My source tells me that she's about fifty, has a Kiffar facial tattoo, and flies a KDY assault ship that I think you'd recognize.""
- ―Goran Beviin, on Kiffar Ailyn Vel
The Mirialans and the Kiffar stood out from other Humans and Near-Humans by their tattoos.[27] The Kiffar believed that it is the mother who gives life, and the power of the Force flows through her to her children. As part of this belief, the tattoos of the Kiffar[27]—known as qukuuf[28]—signified their family heritage from their mothers.[27] Various patterns, designs and colors identify an individual's clan. Known colors were yellow, like the Jedi Master Quinlan Vos,[29] green, like Kiffu Guardian Asanté Vos,[29] purple, like Guardian Horsea,[30] black, like bounty hunters Sintas and Ailyn Vel[26] and former Special Forces Republic trooper Larin Moxla,[31] red, like Guardian Vanlin,[30] and blue, like Jedi Padawan Shigar Konshi.[31]
When an individual's mother was not a Kiffar, apparently the father's tattoos were taken on; this was the case of Korto Vos, the son of Quinlan Vos and Human mother Khaleen Hentz.[32]
Mirialans[]
- "Luminara, [we] have had a recent encounter with someone who bears markings similar to yours."
- ―Qui-Gon Jinn
The Mirialans had a religious belief[27][34] based on an ancient,[27] primitive understanding of the Unifying Force,[34] and believed that an individual's actions contributes to her or his destiny.[34] Their actions encompass a long and specific list of tests of skill and character. The Mirialans tattooed themselves with geometric tattoos[35]on their faces and hands, sometimes on their arms, legs, feet and shoulders.[34] The specific patterns told other Mirialans what tests an individual had undertaken successfully,[34] and what general part she or he would take in the future of the Mirialans,[34] as well as that individuals importance to the future of the universe.[27]
Luminara Unduli with Mirialan tattoos on her face and knuckle joints.
The shapes and locations of Mirialan tattoos denoted different actions in the life of the Mirialan, and upon death, the markings were used to determine the cultural worth of the individual and their contributions to furthering the culture as a whole.[35] Each shape and line depicted the Mirialan's personal history, but few other species cared to decipher them.[36]
The Jedi Master Luminara Unduli and her Padawan Barriss Offee wore unique tattoos to signify that the Force had singled them out for greater destinies. Luminara's tattoos included her lower lip, her chin and the knuckle joints on her hands.[34] Her lower lip had a purplish-black color, and her chin was adorned with interlocking black diamond-shaped tattoos, while more intricate markings covered her knuckle joints.[37] Later, she had her upper lip tattooed as well, and her chin-tattoo was enlarged with more diamonds.[38]
Barriss' tattoos were not as detailed as her master's, but she knew that she would acquire more of them as she grew older. Her diamond-shaped tattoos[39] ran across her cheeks, the bridge of her nose, and the backs of her hands.[34] Her lips were the same dark color of the tattoos,[39] but it is uncertain whether they were tattooed as well, or were just make-up.
The male Mirialan pirate and mercenary Arwen Cohl was rushed from temple to temple with small diamond-shaped tattoos.[33]
The Mirialan smuggler Baasen Ray had tattoos on his chin and cheeks. He acquired a few more as he got older.[40]
Nightbrothers[]
- "Who applied the markings?"
"The mother did."" - ―Darth Plagueis and Darth Sidious discussing Darth Maul
Zabrak Nightbrothers
The Nightbrothers were a tribal group of Dathomirian (Zabrak-Human hybrids) men subservient to the Nightsisters of Dathomir.[41] Shortly after birth, a Nightbrother was subjected to an initiation ritual in which he was submerged in an oily bath, energized with spirit ichor conjured by the Nightsisters' use of magicks, and covered with tattoos[5] on their chests and faces.[42] Sometimes, the tattoos were applied to the Nightbrother's entire body - this was the case with the Sith Lord Darth Maul.[5] The Nightbrothers' tattoos marked them as the Nightsisters' kin and warriors,[42] and also showed which Nightbrother clan they belonged to.[43][42]
Maul was a member of the Nightbrothers before being taken by Darth Sidious to be trained as his apprentice.[41][5] Maul's tattoos, thought to be linked to the Sith,[41] actually came from the warrior culture of the Nightbrothers.[41][5] His entire body had been garishly and ceremonially tattooed in red and black pigments by his mother when he was less than a standard year of age (before he was taken by Sidious),[44] symbols which showed his Nightbrother heritage.[45] Later stripped of his black Nightbrother markings, Maul was left solely red-skinned.[46] Agonizing Sith Tatoos were applied personally by Darth Sidious in an attempt to cleanse Maul's mind.[46][47] Savage Opress also wore tattoos.[48]
Nightsisters[]
The Nightsisters of Dathomir had a tradition of facial tattooing. The markings announced to the galaxy what they were.[42] One example was a group of Nightsisters lead by matriarch Zalem. The coven had pale skin with black tattoos.[49] The Nightsister Robetheri wore reddish-brown tattoos on her bald head and face, which drastically altered her appearance.[50]
Sometimes, the markings on a Nightsister's face were not tattoos, but bruises. According a text written by Mother Talzin, channeling the magic of the Fanged God could burst minor blood vessels, raising telltale bruises on the cheeks and around the eyes.[42] Talzin's herself had such permanent bruises on her face as a result of the use of dark side powers.[51]
Pantorans[]
The blue-skinned Pantorans wore yellow tattoos on their faces.[19]
Rattataki[]
The Rattataki were distinguished by their chalk-white skin, and facial tattoos.[36]
Scipioans[]
Tattoos were mark of status on the planet Scipio. Rush Clovis, a Banking Clan member from Scipio, wore yellow tattoos on his forehead.[52]
Sharu[]
After the Mindharp of Sharu was activated, the life-energies of the Sharu were awakened from their computerized slumber, and the Toka, the species' temporary, primitive form, were restored to the Sharu. Many of the new Sharu had tattoos on their foreheads of the Mindharp or other Sharu symbols.[53]
Sleheyroni[]
Ziro the Hutt with the tattoos of the Hutts of Sleheyron on his head, back, arms and tail. He also had the symbol of Black Sun tattooed on his belly.
The wealthy Hutts of Sleheyron, a Hutt trade world, wore unique headdresses, jewelry and golden tattoos.[54] Ziro the Hutt got his tattoos during his younger days as a crime lord and smuggling boss on the planet.[55] His tattoos were inked by a Sleheyroni artist. He also had the symbol of his Black Sun faction tattooed on his belly.[52]
Sullustans[]
Each Sullustan's cranial markings and dew flaps were as unique to that individual as a retinal marker or fingerprints. Some Sullustans took this uniqueness a step further by adding ritual tattoos, reinforcing their individualism.[27] One example of a tattooed Sullustan was a Sullustan member of the Black Hole Gang during the Clone Wars.[56] In 0 BBY, Han Solo met a Sullustan in a cantina on Kiamurr, who had ornate tattoos on his dewflaps and ears.[40]
Tarasin[]
The Tarasin had a tattoo design unique to their species: A kir'ala tree with its long, weeping branches. Color-changing inks were reserved for marks of true honor.[57]
Tusken Raiders[]
- "I marked myself to set myself apart. So that, under my outer face, I would not have to be...Human"
- ―A'Sharad Hett
Tusken Raiders wore ritual tattoos on their bodies.[59] A'Sharad Hett, a Human raised among Tuskens, wore the tattoos of his people[59] on his face[58] and shoulders[60]. The black markings were a way of identifing himself as not being human under his Tusken trappings.[58]
Nei Rin with Yuuzhan Vong tattoos.
Yuuzhan Vong[]
Among the Yuuzhan Vong, tattooing was part of a religious ritual of reshaping and disfiguration. Most Yuuzhan Vong bore severe disfigurements, scars and tattoos to more closely resemble their gods, which they fanatically worshiped.[62]
Wroonians[]
The Near-Human, blue-skinned Wroonians[63] often wore ornate markings on their faces, but it is unclear how often these facial decorations were tattoos, instead of make-up or paint. The Wroonian woman Azoora had her forehead decorated with a yellow mark that matched her lips.[64] Chi Eekway Papanoida, the Pantoran senator of the Wroonian homeworld,[65] whose skin color matched the Wroonians, wore black markings on her forehead, nose and chin.[66] The planet Saleucami was home to several offworld cultures, including Wroonians.[67] Among the Wroonian colonists, ornate facial markings appeared to be common. At least two colors, red and black, existed.[68]
Zabrak[]
The Zabrak wore facial tattoos made up of thin lines that they received during their rite of passage, which takes place after their horns begin to grow at puberty. These facial marks could be symbolic of many things, like family lineage or where they came from, or could be a personal design of their own.[27] A Zabrak's ritual tattoos were unique to each Zabrak, and could represent any number of things in their life or culture.[36] The Sith Lord Darth Maul had his skin covered in black tattoos[27] from his Nightbrothers tribe.[41] It was unusual for a Zabrak to have no facial tattoos[69]; notable examples were Jedi Master Agen Kolar,[70] Pol Haus, prefect in the Imperial Sector Police[69] and the Jedi Padawan Maris Brood.[71]
Notable organizations[]
Black Sun[]
- "Those weren't Rebels, unless Rebels started wearing Black Sun tattoos..."
- ―Jix
Some members of the crime syndicate Black Sun carried the symbol of the organization as a permanent tattoo on their body. During the Clone Wars, a trio of Black Sun mercenaries crossed paths with Nuru Kungurama and Breakout Squad. At least one of the mercenaries had a Black Sun tattoo on his forearm, though he covered it up with synthskin.[13] Vigo Ziro the Hutt had the symbol of his Black Sun faction tattooed on his belly.[52] During the Galactic Civil War, a group of Black Sun operatives attacked Imperial Governor Lexhannen Torlock's palace on Corulag. The group was posing as members of the Rebel Alliance, but their Black Sun tattoos gave them away.[72] In 137 ABY, several Black Sun members sought to extort protection money from "Bantha" Rawk. After the skirmish, a Black Sun tattoo could be seen on the shoulder a dead Quarren.[73]
The Crucible[]
- "The marks! Don't you know what they are? Don't you know what she is?"
- ―Goethar Kleej about Jarael
Jarael with the Flames of the Crucible on her face and arms.
The Crucible was a slaving ring, whose minders wore tattoos[75] known as Flames of the Crucible[74]. Some members, such as Chantique and Jarael, were known to bear the Flames of the Crucible on their arms and faces.[75] Jarael had never explained her body art,[76] but in the end, her past caught up with her when she ran into a slave called Goethar Kleej on Pantolomin[74]. Goethar had never met her before, but recognized the markings printed on her face.[74] However, the tattoos on Jarael's face spelled out her name, which in the ancient tongue of the Crucible[75] meant "protector", and had been given to her by the slaves she had tried to help as well as she could.[77]
Duality[]
The Duality was a popular and benign Tarrack cult founded on the twin principles of joy and service. Followers could be identified by the tattoos on their foreheads and cheeks.[78]
Force Hounds[]
Force Hounds were Force-sensitive servants of the Rakatan Infinite Empire. They wore a tattoo of their Aurebesh letter name on their face and body. The Near-Human Trill had a red tattoo on her face representing the letter Trill.[80] Human Force Hound Xesh had blue tattoos on his face, back and arms, representing the letter Xesh.[81] Isk had azure tattoos on his face and arm representing the letter Isk.[81]
K'thri[]
The followers of the K'thri martial arts had their mark tattooed on their skin.[82]
Matukai[]
The Matukai were an ancient sect of Force-users spread throughout the galaxy. When a member completed her or his training, that person tattooed themselves with a symbol that covered parts of their forehead and the sides of the face at the eyes.[83] After the fall of the Galactic Empire, many Matukai joined the New Jedi Order, but they still preferred to distinguish themselves with a facial tattoo.[84]
Rav's Pirates[]
Jariah Syn with the Bloody Bones tattooed on his shoulder.
The pirate Rav and his crew wore tattoos of the Rav's insignia called the Bloody Bones, composed of two crossed red bones. His symbol was feared throughout the galaxy. After joining Rav's crew, Cade Skywalker was marked with Rav's insignia on his arm, but added a skull to his tattoo, thus making the symbol his own.[85] He would later add a similar, black tattoo on the other arm.[86]
Many members of Rav's crew wore other red tattoos in addition to Rav's symbol.[73] For example, Cade's friend and fellow pirate Jariah Syn had red markings tattooed on his right forearm, wrist and hand.[87] Cade had a similar tattoo on his left forearm, reminiscent of a red anchor,[87] as well as a red skull tattooed on his left leg.[88]
Red Hand[]
Several members of the Coruscant criminal organization Red Hand had their organization's symbol tattooed on their skin. At least two different color designs, red and purple, were used.[89]
Sisterhood of the Beatific Countenance[]
The Sisterhood of the Beatific Countenance were a religious group of Lorrdian mercenaries. When traveling outside their temple, they wore full length robes and masks to hide the lines of scripture tattooed on their bodies.[90]
Sith Order[]
Several members of the Sith Order adorned themselves with black tattoos of various patterns and designs.
Sith Empire[]
- "Naga Sadow, are you ready for the mark?"
- ―A Sith soldier to the new Dark Lord of the Sith, Naga Sadow
XoXaan, one of the first Sith Lords, had her face tattooed with black markings.[88]
The Dark Lords of the Sith of the old Sith Empire wore tattoos of rank on their foreheads. The burning venom of a kind of pincerbug was used to burn the mark into the Dark Lords skin.[92] Centuries later, the Sith Lord Naga Sadow would bear the same mark.[93] 1000 year after the fall of the Sith Empire, the spirit of the Dark Lord Marka Ragnos named Exar Kun the newest Dark Lord, and made Ulic Qel-Droma Kun's apprentice. Marked with Sith tattoos on their foreheads by Ragnos' hand, the newest members of the Sith joined forces.[94] When Ulic returned to the light side, his tattoo was carved away, leaving an x-shaped scar.[95]
The members of the Lost Tribe of Sith on Kesh did not wear tattoos. Seelah Korsin instilled in the tribe's younglings a "respect for their bodies" and a "lust for physical perfection". In her eyes, tattoos were labels for slaves.[96] This tradition was still alive 5000 years later: While the Lost Tribe enjoyed painting their bodies with decorative markings, they would never defile themselves with permanent ink.[3]
Sith Empire (Jedi Civil War)[]
During the Jedi Civil War a few decades later, the fallen Jedi Knight Darth Revan founded a new Sith Empire and declared himself the new Dark Lord of the Sith. Several members of Revan's new Sith order sported tattoos. Uthar Wynn, the head of the Sith Academy on Korriban, and his apprentice Yuthura Ban had parts of their heads and necks adorned with a detailed pattern of tattoos. Revan's follower Jorak Uln had his bald heads tattooed with a striped design.[97]. However, Revan's apprentice, Darth Malak, got his tattoos, blue stripes which adorned his head, before he became a Sith.[98]
Sith Empire (Post–Great Hyperspace War)[]
Many Sith of the reconstituted Sith Empire had facial tattoos that represented their devotion to the Sith.[99]
Xat Hracken was the Combat Master at the Sith academy on Odacer-Faustin in year 3645 BBY. His upper body was hardened by scar tissue and strange tattoos.[100]
New Sith Empire[]
In year 1750 BBY, the powerful Sith leader known only as the Dark Underlord consolidated a large Sith group known as the Black Knights.[101] One of these knights was a Zeltron commander,[101] whose red skin was decorated with black tattoos on the left side of his face and bald head.[102]
New Sith Wars / Brotherhood of Darkness[]
750 years later, by the time of the battle of Ruusan, two and a half thousand years after Revan's time, the tattoos of the Sith had evolved into circles, wavy lines, straight lines, squares, spots, swirls, triangles etc.[103] One example was the Sith Lord Githany, who bore a wavy, circular black tattoo on her forehead. Several Sith of this era had their eyelids and skin around their eyes tattooed.[103] The Sith Lord Darth Bane, the man who eventually reinvented the Sith order after its destruction and established the Rule of Two had black markings around his eyes,[104] Some Sith of this era wore tattoos on their head or face, though some had other parts of their body decorated.[103] Among them was the Sith Lord Kas'im, who wore his tattoos on his chest,[105]
Darth Talon, a Sith Lord of Darth Krayt's New Sith Order, had black Sith tattoos covering her body, head, and lekku
and an unnamed tattooed Sith who was tattooed on his head, face, neck and arms.[106]
Finn, a Sith Master who operated as a terrorist during the final years of the New Sith Wars,[107] had two black tattoos under each eye.[106]
Order of the Sith Lords[]
Darth Bane's apprentice, Darth Zannah, eventually acquired facial markings similar to those of her master; again, is is not known whether these were permanent tattoos or simply painted. Zannah's apprentice, Darth Cognus, already wore tattoos before she became a Sith - her chin was tattooed with four sharp, thin lines, extending like fangs from her lower lip.[108]
Darth Tenebrous, the master of Darth Plagueis, had esoteric body markings and tattoos on his body.[5]
Darth Sidious selected Darth Maul as his apprentice. Unbeknownst to many, Maul had been a member of the Dathomiri Nightbrothers before being taken away by Sidious, and Maul's full-body tattoos, thought to be linked to the Sith, initially came from the warrior culture of the Nightbrothers.[41][5] Maul's entire body had been garishly and ceremonially tattooed in red and black pigments before he was taken by Sidious, when Maul was less than a standard year of age.[44] Later stripped of his black Nightbrother markings, Maul was left solely red-skinned.[46] Agonizing Sith Tatoos were applied personally by Darth Sidious in an attempt to cleanse Maul's mind.[46][47] Sidious later wrote in the Dark Side Compendium that he himself applied Maul's tattoos.[109] The symbols on Maul's body showed both his Nightbrothers heritage,[45] as well as his complete dedication to the dark side.[109] Maul's brother, Savage Opress, was also tattoed in the same fashion as Maul, but his tattoos were brown.
The Dark Jedi Jerec, of the same era, bore Sith tattoos on his mouth and chin, even though he was never named a Sith Lord.[93]
One Sith[]
- "Look at 'em, Cannon... Snarky, red-tatted gornts. I don't like 'em and I don't trust 'em."
"Lords of the Empire, Storm."" - ―Jae "Stom" Akura and Brodie "Cannon" Coburn
During the Second Galactic Civil War, decades after the birth of the New Republic, the Sith continued to survive on the planet Korriban. One of them was Dician, whose pale geometric-patterned tattoos on her cheeks stood out from normal black Sith tattoos. Her tattoos stood out in sharp relief on her dark skin.[111]
Vestara Khai, a Sith apprentices of the Lost Tribe of Sith on Kesh, wore what appeared to be a black tattoo that went from between her eyes to the left side of her forehead.[112] However, this was actually eye swirls that she carefully painted on every morning to draw attention away from a scar at the corner of her mouth.[113]
Many members of Darth Krayt's One Sith wore red and black Sith tattoos all over their body.[114] Darth Krayt himself was tattooed long before he became a Sith. As a Human raised among Tusken Raiders, he marked his face with black tattoos so that he, under his Tusken trappings, would not have to be human.[58] His markings were ritual Tusken tattoos.[59] He also wore tattoos on his shoulders.[60] One of Krayt's two Hands was the Twi'lek Sith Lord Darth Talon, whose tattoos were scribed by Krayt and earned in ritual combat.[85]
Skull Squadron[]
Gunn Yage, leader of Skull Squadron, and squadron members Brodie Coburn and Tev Rimon, had their squadron symbol tattooed on their shoulder.[115]
Sluissi Padawans[]
Jedi Padawans of the Galactic Republic wore a braid behind the ear as a sign of their status; that is, those of them who had hair or fur. Padawans without hair would show their rank in other ways, and Sluissi Padawans could choose to bisect their left cheek with a facial tattoo.[84]
Nyrat Agira, a member of the Zealots of Psusan.
Vurrha's Blood[]
Vurrha's Blood was a criminal group lead by the Quarren Vurrha Chur. Their name derived from both the initiation ceremony where Vurrha would cut himself and smear his blood across the face of the new member, and the tattoos they wore - a red circle with a black teardrop inside.[116]
Zealots of Psusan[]
The Zealots of Psusan, female members of the cult Disciples of Psusan, could be recognized by a spiritual tattoo of a black starburst on the abdomen, surrounding the navel.[117] At least two designs existed: Nyrat Agira and Khaleen Hentz wore a mark which was slightly more detailed than the design worn by Rosha Vess. Khaleen Hentz was adorned with other tattoos as well: Two triangles formed a diamond under her left eye, and a flower made up of black diamonds, dots and lines was tattooed on the left side of her back.[118] The Farghul bounty hunter Breela had a belly tattoo very similar to the Zealots of Psusan, marking her as a possible member.[119]
Notable people with individual tattoos[]
Bounty hunters[]
- The Zabrak Odon Anak wore a light red tattoo of a lightning bolt on her forehead and cheekbones, in addition to the traditional tattoos of her species.[116]
- The Farghul Breela had a belly tattoo very similar to the Zealots of Psusan, marking her as a possible member.[119]
- Jango Fett had strangely tattooed arms.[120]
- Rako Hardeen had reddish-brown tattoos on his face.[121] He got them while serving with the mercenary band known as Marvasa's Marauders in the Cyrillian Protectorate.[55]
- Gida Luroon wore black tattoos on the top of her left lekku and across her left eye.[122]
- Tirog wore a gray tattoo over his right eye and cheek, as well as a red tattoo on his head and right arm.[124]
Clone troopers[]
- "They say he bulked himself up in captivity. And tattooed his name all over his body."
- ―Hock Malsuum, about his fellow clone trooper, Kaddak
Hardcase had tattoos on across his face and scalp
- Dogma sported a red tattoo across his face. His helmet had a triangular design that reflected his tattoo.[126]
- Hardcase had blue stripes tattooed across his face and scalp, which matched a design painted on his armor.[128]
- While clone trooper Kaddak was held in captivity on Kamino (for killing his Mandalorian instructor), he tattooed his name all over his body, in Aurebesh characters.[125]
- Kix had the phrase "A good droid is a dead one" tattooed in Aurebesh on the left side of his head.[128]
- Commander Stone was recognizable by a tattoo on the left side of his forehead, which resembled the number "53".[131]
- Tup sported a tear drop tattoo under his right eye. His helmet had a tear drop design that reflected his tattoo.[126]
Force users[]
- The Dark Jedi Tavion Axmis wore patterns of purple tattoos on her arms and forehead, as well as under her eyes and on the bridge of her nose.[132]
- The Jedi Padawan and expert slicer Ekria, and the expert slicer Zakarisz Ghent both hailed from the planet Baroli,[133] and were distinguished by their blue hair and the same blue facial tattoos[134]. It is not known whether their appearance was part of a culture, organization or sub-culture, or whether they were related.
- The near-Human Jedi Master Fay had black lines tattooed on her left cheek and forehead.[135]
- Jedi Master Fy-Tor-Ana had a tattoo on her forehead. At the time she was hiding underneath the bedrock of Coruscant after the Great Jedi Purge, the facial mark had become faded.[136]
- For Jerec, see entry for Sith Order.
- The Jedi Knight Ky Narec had thin, black lines tattooed on his chin and on the sides of his nose.[137]
- The Emperor's Hand Sarcev Quest had a purplish tattoo on the top of his bald head.[138]
- The Emperor's Hand and TIE pilot Maarek Stele had a tattoo of the Emperor's Reach on his left forearm, which signified his involvement with the Emperor's Secret Order.[139]
Jabba the Hutt's arm tattoo
- The Dathomirian[41][141] Dark Jedi Asajj Ventress was distinguished by the black tattoos on her chalk-white skin. Six knife-shaped tattoos were arrayed on each side of her bald head, like daggers pointing at her ears, one for each of the twelve warlords she had killed after swearing their deaths.[142][143] However, on several occasions during the Clone Wars, she was seen with different, wavy markings, and had apparently added tattoos to her jaw.[144] These markings were ritual tattoos.[52]
- Yuledan, a Jedi of the New Jedi Order, had red symbols tattooed on his chest.[145]
Hutts[]
- The Hutt Grand Council member Arok had a tattoo on his right arm.
- The crime lord Groola had a purple talon-shaped tattoo over each eye, as well as two bands of purple tattoos that went from his chin and down his chest and belly.[9]
- The gangster Jabba Desilijic Tiure wore the symbol of his clan as a tattoo on his right arm.[147] The tattoo was made of yoro root pigment.[4] Big Gizz, the leader of Jabba's swoop gang, wore a tattoo identical to Jabba's, on the same arm. Several other members of his gang did it so, as a symbol of their affiliation.[148]
- Juvard Illip Oggurobb, a famous scientist during the Galactic War, had a tattoo on his chest.[149]
- Lungru Nokko Vimmas, a Hutt who owned a household of Cerean retainers, had a diamond-shaped tattoo in the center of his forehead.[150]
Mandalorians[]
- "When I saw the tattoos on that female's hand, I thought for a moment that there might be a vestige of the true warrior left in the Mandalorians and that they might be like us in valuing their own pain and death. But no - this is vanity, decoration, nothing more."
- ―Yuuzhan Vong Nom Anor, commenting on his meeting with the Mandalorian Briika Jeban
- Baltan Carid had a dark blue tattoo of a vine which emerged from the top of his armor and ended under his chin.[152]
- The mercenary Briika Jeban had an intricate lacework of blue tattoos on her hands.[151]
Nera Dantels' facial tattoos proclaimed her individuality and refusal to blend in
- Canderous Ordo had his clan mark tattooed on his left shoulder.[154]
- Veela Ordo, the Mandalorian wife of Canderous, had her high cheekbones tattooed with intricate blue swirls.[154]
Pirates[]
- The pirate captain Nym received a tattoo on his arm after winning a violent free-for-all in the Blood Pits of Nar Shaddaa. The formerly meaningless symbol went on to become the flag for Nym's band of mercenaries, the Lok Revenants.[155]
- While posing as a pirate captain, the Twi'lek Dia Passik had her lekku decorated with temporary tattoos of an intricate pattern of black cuneiform marks. The body art told the misdeeds stories of her fictitious character.[156]
- The feared Firrerreo pirate lord Tantos had his arms covered with three-dimensional tattoos of strange beasts.[157]
- The pirate Dorok Zalaster had his bald head covered with tattoos of swirling designs.[158]
Rebels[]
- Basso, a member of the Rebel Alliance, had his head tattooed with a black band that went over his forehead and around his head.[159]
- The smuggler and Rebel Alliance member Nera Dantels was distinguished by her black talon-shaped tattooed under her eyes. The tattoos were later enlarged, with bigger talons that and also covered her eyes, and the color was changed to dark blue.[160] Her tattoos prominently proclaimed her individuality and refusal to blend in.[161]
- Alfonso Luiz Obota had a brown tattoo on his right arm.[162]
- Wyl Tarson adorned his skin with a single, big golden tattoo which covered parts of his neck, chest, back, left arm and stomach.[163]
Senators and aides[]
- Mina Bonteri, a senator in the Separatist Parliament during the Clone Wars, had intricate patterns tattooed on her arms and neck.[164]
Wyl Tarson's golden tattoo covered a large area of his upper body
- Sa'arli was a Tarasin aide to Senator Lavina Durada-Vashne Wren of Cularin. She wore a tattoo of a snakelike lizard whose tail ran from her jawline to up around her ear-slit.[165]
Others[]
- The famous shockball player Ytavarg Aleema had the number 39 tattooed on his arm, along with an upside-down triangle on his shoulder.[166]
- After the intelligence operative Myri Antilles startled her father by telling him about her new tattoos (the hair dye would wash out, but "the tattoos were permanent"), she laughed. It is unclear whether she was telling the truth or only joking.[1]
- The scoundrel Billal Batross wore a reddish, circular tattoo on his right arm.[168]
- Cavis Bault, a follower of the religious organization H'kig, had every inch of his arms decorated with elaborate tattoos disappearing into his plain habit.[169]
- The young rancor Bender was tattooed with his name in both Basic and Huttese upon his left shoulder.[170]
- Trunks Bibo, the Ortolan leader of the Lost Ones street gang, adorned his blue fur with geometric tattoos of red, green and purple.[9]
- Big Gizz, the leader of Jabba the Hutt's swoop gang, wore the same tattoo as his boss, Jabba the Hutt, on his right arm.[148] The tattoo was the symbol of Jabba's clan.[5]
- The minor Crime Lord Ray Carantar had a twisting and curving tattoo on the right side of his bald head.[171]
Mina Bonteri had intricate patterns tattooed on her arms and neck
- Ramsis Dendup,[172] the former King of Onderon, had a black tattoo on his hand.[173]
- Peace Brigade leader Reck Desh, also a smuggler, was recognizable by his full sleeve of tattoos.[174]
- Shaala Doneeta, the Twi'lek aide of Sith Lord Count Dooku, had Sith-like tattoos on her lekku.[175]
- Ushka Et, the Devaronian lead singer of the band Distraction, stood out from other tattooed people by a peculiar design: Half her face was tattooed to look like she'd been in a horribly disfiguring accident – that is, from a distance. Up close, she was very attractive. She had done this for the sake of attention, and was very self-conscious about her actions. She wasn't ashamed of the original body art, but preferred that people didn't stare at her tattoos unless she was performing. When she talked to people, she therefore tended to turn the tattooed half of her face away from the person.[177]
- Furan was a Mon Calamari inmate at the Armand Isard Correctional Facility. The skin of his head and hands was thickly decorated with crude black tattoos, many of them gang markings or kill silhouettes.[178]
- Anja Gallandro had a piranha beetle with a lightning bolt on its back tattooed on her right arm.[179]
- The tramp freighter captain Dana "Deke" Galvason had strange tribal-looking tattoos under her eyes and across the bridge of her nose.[180]
- Malindin Gevarak was a small-type counterfeiter recognizable by the tattoos on his face and neck.[181]
- Gauer, a man employed by the Galactic Empire, had a tattoo consisting of a brown line that ran over his hairless skull to the top of his nose, where the line split in two and formed another line over the bridge of his nose. His eyelids and the skin around his eyes was tattooed black, and both eye tattoos were connected by a black stripe underneath the brown one over the bridge over his nose.[182]
- For Zakarisz Ghent, see Ekria's entry under "Force users"
- The Twi'lek starship thief Tardon Golor had intricate tattoos on his scalp and lekku.[183]
- The Siniteen criminal Hal'Sted had his forehead and parts of his face tattooed with an intricate black pattern.[137]
- Swoop gang member Roy Harlison had "big daddy" tattooed on his upper arm, with letters from the High Galactic alphabet.[185]
- Jally, a heavily tattooed male Human, served as the bodyguard of crime lord Cash Garrulan.[186]
- The Besalisk cook and diner proprietor Dexter Jettster had a black tattoo reminiscent of an anchor on his uppermost right arm.[187]
- The famous podracer Kerd K'Kerren had every inch of his hands, face and neck covered in intricate tattoos of green and gold. The left side of his had was shaved and tattooed with swirls and checks.[188]
- Blue Squadron pilot Dorset Konnair had a blue starflare tattoo covering her right eye. Her skin was also decorated with other symbols, most of which were hidden underneath her clothes.[189]
- Loubo, owner of the spaceport restaurant Plop Dribble's, had a tattoo on his right arm of a double-heart that said "MOM", in Aurebesh.[190][191]
- The Aruzan dancing girl Manaroo had luminous tattoos of moons and stars glowing on her wrists and ankles.[192]
- The young Coruscanti alien woman Ione Marcy wore red underworld tattoos of a current fashion, on her skull.[52]
- New Republic lieutenant Massimo had wavy blue lines tattooed on his back.[146]
- Con artist Achk Med-Beq had a spiderwebby facial over his left eye. The tattoo was somewhat of a giveaway while he was posing as a Republic Security Guard - such tattoos were actually frowned upon at the Security Academy.[193]
- While working undercover as speeder bike racer Miraj, the face of Sector Rangers Special Enforcement Officer Narra Mesyne was emblazoned with markings that went from above the eyebrow, over her right eye and down her cheek. It is not known whether these were permanent tattoos, or painted on her face as part of her alias as Miraj.[194]
- The near-Human handmaiden of Malta the Hutt, Jozzel Moffet, had her eyes covered with dark red tattoos that matched her lips and nails.[195]
- Black Sun member Asa Naga had three thin, blue, vertical rectangles with black outlines tattooed in the center of his forehead. This design was enhanced with white color tattooed over his nose and parts of his forehead, in contrast with his blue skin.[196]
A tattooed woman at the Black Hole cantina on Kiffex, wearing tattoos on her forehead, left arm and right shoulder.
- The Anti-Republic Liberation Front member Paak had his neck, face and shaved head covered with green and purple tattoos that made it difficult to pick out his Human features.[197]
- Thrynka Padaunete, leader of the People's Inquest, had a dark gray tattoo on her chest. Her face was decorated with red and white markings, which might have been tattoos as well, or just simply make-up.[198]
- Lady Por'Ten, head of one of the Cestus Cybernetics Families, was adorned with elaborate tattoos on her lips.[142]
- The Imperial undercover spy Lucius Rothingham had several tattoos on his arms and chest.[9]
- Shelov, the Herglic head of the Tundei Tribunal on Abregado-rae, was easily recognized by the black ring-tattoos circling the blow hole on his head.[9]
- After the female Twi'lek Sienn'rha was abducted and enslaved by Bib Fortuna, her lekku was tattooed with delicate floral chains. A Twi'lek's lekku was full of nerves, which made the skin extremely sensitive, and tattooing excruciatingly painful.[199]
- The zealous Xalto Sneerzick had the back of his hand decorated with a tattoo of the symbol of his cause: A purple cog being struck by a lightning bolt, which signified his devotion to freeing all droids throughout the galaxy.[200]
- The freedom fighter Cham Syndulla had Twi'lek clan tattoos on his head.[202]
- Diversity Alliance leader Nolaa Tarkona had her single lekku – the other one was missing – tattooed, and stoically endured the prolonged agony. Everyone who saw the Twi'lek woman's tattoos admired her endurance, which added to her power.[2]
- The Nagai Lusubrin T'shkali, also known as Brin, had a violet royal crest tattooed around his left eye, and silver sigils tattooed on his neck. He refused to discuss the significance of either set of markings.[194]
- Letta Turmond had dark gray tattoos on her face and right arm.[203]
- The Mistryl Shadow Guard Variise had a tattoo shaped like an exclamation point over her right forehead and cheek.[204]
- Varti, a citizen of the planet JanFathal, had the dark skin of his scalp tattooed with white designs from ear to what had been his hairline.[205]
Morlish Veed had a simple tattoo of Aurebesh letters on his arm
- Grand Moff Morlish Veed of the New Galactic Empire had a black tattoo of the Aurebesh letters Wesk over Herf, on his right arm.[206]
- Vreel, a recruit of the Imperial Army, wore intricate tattoos on the side of his scalp.[207]
- Zabin, the Kubaz Queen of the Zabin Hive, had her face decorated with graceful blue lines.[208]
Behind the scenes[]
One of the proposed designs for Anakin Skywalker for Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith had him sporting a mohawk and a black tattoo on his right arm and shoulder,[209][210] but George Lucas thought it was too much.[210]
The The Clone Wars Character Encyclopedia states that tattoos are part of the Togruta culture, and describes the white facial markings of Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano as tattoos. This has been contradicted in other sources; the Ultimate Alien Anthology, Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: The Visual Dictionary, The New Essential Guide to Alien Species and Star Wars: The Old Republic Encyclopedia all establish that the facial markings of the Togruta are in fact natural pigments. Even so, during the production of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Ahsoka's facial markings were designed as tattoos, according to The Art of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. A conclusive answer has yet to be revealed.
In Legacy (2006) 44, a black tattoo erroneously appears on Fionah Ti's shoulder in one panel. For the rest of the storyarc, the tattoo is missing.
