In northern Ethiopia, delicate neck and facial tattoos called nikisat (ንቅሳት) stand out against the traditional white clothing and elaborate hair designs of Ethiopian women. This kind of tattoo is also found at the northern part of Tigray and some regional parts of the region.

This type of tattoo has three purposes. Religious, aesthetic and was used as a treatment.

These tattoos have been practiced by coptic orthodoxs for many years which makes them the originator of these tattoos.

| “In times of persecution, the tattoo of the cross has given strength to the faithful and has made it impossible for them to deny their faith.” |