I want a tattoo. In particular is one found on a very old mummy. Obviously it must have had great meaning to its owner, people, and culture. Would getting that tattoo be in bad taste? I don't like the tattoo because it's "cool" (though it is!), I can identify with it and think it both very beautiful and meaningful. I really love it, but I want to respect the dead and history even more. What would you do?

I would not get the tattoo. It would be disrespectful to the culture, as well as the individual who had it. I do not think it is ever good to copy anothers tattoo. Why not try taking the aspects of it that you like to an artist and talking to them about how you could go about making it something unique for you?