How to Remove a Tattoo, c. 500

naked woman with spear, covered with gorgeous floral tattoos Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues, A Young Daughter of the Picts (c. 1585)

They call stigmata things inscribed on the face or some other part of the body, for example on the hands of soldiers… In cases where we wish to remove such stigmata, we must use the following preparation… When applying, first clean the stigmata with niter, smear them with resin of terebinth, and bandage for five days… The stigmata are removed in twenty days, without great ulceration and without a scar.

Aetius of Amida, Tetrabiblion (trans. C. P. Jones)

Suffering from tattoo regret? Aetius of Amida has got your back, or bicep, or whatever part of your body is sporting the name of your ex.

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