Where did tattoos originated from?

ok… i just want to ask, where did tattoos originated from and whats was its purpose? then if its ok then go with it. if it will increase your faith and love to God why not.
1 Corinthians 6:12 says:
“Everything is permissible for me”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me”—but I will not be mastered by anything.
i remembered one preacher saying something like ‘the problems with the Corinthians is not because they are in Corinth but too much Corinth are in them’
that makes me think that we should cautious on what we are adopting in this world… we are a new creation and a brand new man, Old Things Are Passed Away. I’ve Been Born A-gain. (hmmm… isn’t that a song??) ^_^
by they way we are not citizen of this world anymore. ^_^