When we talk about ancient tattoos, Egyptian mummies, Polynesian patterns, or Slavic protective signs immediately come to mind. But the Persian Empire – one of the greatest powers of the ancient world – is almost not associated with tattoo culture in the public consciousness. And this, frankly, is unfair. Over a millennium of rule from the Achaemenids to the Sasanians, there have been quite a few testimonies, legends, and archaeological finds that allow us to reconstruct the picture: how, where, and why patterns were applied to the skin in a country that stretched from the Indus to Egypt. In this article, we will break down the topic bone by bone – from what is truly confirmed by science to the symbolic language of Persian ornaments and practical recommendations on where to dig if you want to study the topic deeper.