MUNDURUCU
Abyssinia is a historical name associated with the Ethiopian Empire and the highlands of the Horn of Africa. Its peoples have diverse traditions of dress and body decoration, including tattoos that make religious identity visible on the skin.
Among some Ethiopian Christian communities, crosses are tattooed on the forehead, face, neck, chest or hands. Historical portraits of women from the Tigray region show these Christian marks alongside ornamental lines and other geometric patterns. The cross is more than a decoration: it can serve as a lasting declaration of faith.
Other communities, including the Afar—called Danakil in older sources—have their own traditions of tattooing and scarification. Historical accounts describe markings on the face and body, sometimes combining incised scars with pigment. These customs vary across the region and should not be reduced to one group or described as surviving only among Afar women.