Tattoos Honoring Paris

Getting a tattoo can be one of the most therapeutic experiences a person can go through in the wake of tragedy. Just ask any inked person sporting a reminder of a loved one about their tattoo and you are sure to hear a tale about how getting that permanent reminder was an integral part of their grieving process. So it is unsurprising to see that tattooists around the world have been reacting to the terrorist attacks that shook Paris to its very core on November 13th, 2015, with commemorative tattoos.

One of the most common themes throughout the tattoos is invoking the city’s motto, “Fluctuat nec mergitur.” Translated from Latin the phrase means “she is tossed by waves but does not sink.” One cannot think of a more appropriate slogan in these troubled times as the residents of Paris, and the rest of the world, try to make some sense about the brutal attacks. We greatly applaud those who have gotten inked as a sign of compassion, defiance, mourning or any of the other thousands of emotions a tragedy like this can provoke. Check out some of the tattoos (and a few potential tattoos) in the gallery below.