Inked Mag Staff
February 20th, 2017
Find Out the Meanings Behind These Tattoos!
Sometimes it can be awkward to ask about someone's ink—this list makes it so you might not have to!
Maybe something on the list will inspire your next piece!
Although tattoo art can be very personal, there are traditions when it comes to what we put on our bodies. You can never be sure what someone’s ink means to them unless you ask, but it is helpful to know that there are some symbols that have traditionally carried cultural weight—especially when used in body art. Here’s a handy guide to help you understand what different images can mean in tattoos!
Source: Instagram @knoteyetattoo; @whoisjillea; @passion_and_madness
Source: Instagram @hansebluearms
Butterflies usually represent a metamorphosis of some kind. They can be symbols of change, rebirth, and beauty for obvious reasons. In Japan and Greece, butterflies have traditionally been seen as representative of the human soul. Another traditionally use of the butterfly is in a pair, flying together, which represents love in the Chinese tradition.
Source: Instagram @angietrntattoo
Lions have traditionally represented strength, ferocity, courage, and protection—King of the Jungle, you know? The roots of this association can be found all over the globe from ancient Egyptian myths, to Hindu deities, to the Chinese Imperial palaces. In all of these instances, the image of the lion was used to portray the aforementioned attributes.
Source: Instagram @hansebluearms
Dudes love paying homage to “tribes” they know nothing about. Ugh. How many d-bags have this passé ink? Virtually impossible to cover up, you scream to the world, “Brah, let’s do shots!”
Source: Instagram @blackhearttattoo
The eagle has symbolic meaning for many in the Americas as well as throughout eastern Europe and Asia. Mexico, India, Egypt, Armenia,and the USA, all use the Eagle as a symbol of national pride and strength, while many native American tribes view the eagle’s feathers as a source of power.
Source: Instagram @junior_tattooyou
The Japanese has a long tradition of wolf imagery in art and culture. The Japanese call wolves “okami” which means “great god,” and shrines to the animal can be found throughout the country.
For the Navajo people, wolves represented the mystical and were often viewed as disguised humans.
Additionally, in the greater Judeo-Christian tradition, wolves have been used to represent greed and destruction as they appear in the Bible as harbingers of those concepts.
Source: Instagram @nikkismith.tattoo
Throughout history, monkeys have come to represent the mischievous, the energetic, and the child-like. Their most common associations are with the “three senseless creatures” of Chinese lore (representing greed), in Buddhism as an early, deceitful and ugly, incarnation of Buddha, and in Japan as the folkloric “Mizaru, Kikazaru, and Iwazaru” or “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.”
Source: Instagram @morleyelectrictattoo
A staple of beach-loving girls with spring break tattoos, the dolphin is actually a more complex symbol than you might think. In the Hindu tradition dolphins were seen as a good omen when sailing.
In Greek mythology, dolphins were associated with Poseidon and Dionysus, as well as appearing on the backs of ancient Greek currency.
Source: Instagram @ahadejia
The history of the panther on tattooing is just that—all about tattooing. Panthers became a popular choice thanks to Amund Diesel in the early 1900s due to the shape of the animal. Later, the panther became the icon of the Black Panther Movement and is now associated with black pride. That said, many ink-lovers still get favor the panther due to it’s place in body-art history.
Source: Instagram @tattooist_sodam
The whale has cultural significance in many cultures around the world. Most notably, perhaps, in the Inuit cultures of North America where a key origin myth cites the appearance of a whale that had washed ashore as the catalyst for throwing the order of the world into disarray. In the tale, order was restored once the whale was returned to the sea.
Source: Instagram @santostattoos; @chronicdanger; @petravalk
Christian Cross: A pretty straightforward meaning for most people, the cross is a Christian symbol that represents the crucifixion of and their connection to Jesus Christ.
Upside down cross/St. Peter’s cross: A cross that is turned on it’s head is referred to as St. Peter’s cross, as the symbol is connected to the crucifixion of St. Peter. Tattoos depicting St. Peter’s Cross are often representative of Satanism, despite their long-held connection to the Judeo-Christian Saint from which they get their name.
Celtic Cross: The Celtic Cross is much like the Christian Cross and holds much of the same meaning. That said, it incorporates the older, Celtic/Gaelic tradition of knots into it’s design which is what gives it it’s unique look.
Source: Instagram @camilo_nunes; @mica_one; @arjunamyles; @oncenuevediez
Ganesh: Ganesh is one of the five primary Hindu deities and is depicted with an elephant’s head, a third eye, and a broken tusk. He is known as the “remover of obstacles” and the “creator of new beginnings.”
Shiva: Shiva is the supreme god in the Hindu tradition and an important part of the trinity with the power to destroy the universe. Like Ganesh, he is depicted with a third eye as well as a crescent moon, blue throat, a deer, and other attributes.
Krishna: Krishna is often depicted as a young boy with blue skin who plays the flute. He is the primary deity of the Hare Krishnas.
Kali: Kali is a Hindu goddess associated with death, time, and devastation as well as sexuality. She has also been associated with motherhood and fertility. She is often depicted with her tongue out, in a war-like stance, vanquishing an evil-doer and allowing the blood from a severed head to flow into a golden cup.
Source: Instagram @christianpinupbjerring
Spiderwebs: Spiderwebs have been used in tattooing and folklore over the years to represent many things. They are now most commonly used by ex-convicts to represent the amount of time that they spent behind bars.
Source: Instagram @allydutil; @saylahvie; @explorer_explorer; @timelesstattoos13
Anchor: A very common tattoo symbol, anchors were used by Navy men or Marines to represent time spent abroad during service.
Ships: Tattoos of boats seem like a no-brainer for sailors. Ship tattoos are traditionally accompanied by the words “Homeward Bound,” and were a mark of good luck for a safe return home.
Nautical Stars: Another symbol of a safe return home, the traditional nautical star is a five-point star with half of each leg filled in. It was very popular with sailors and remains a popular choice today!
Swallows: Tattoos of swallows can mean a number of different things for sailors. They were a sign of hope since seeing birds on a journey meant land was near. They might represent how many years a sailor spent away or how many miles he had traveled. They also can have romantic connotations because swallows mate for life!
Source: Instagram @got_tattooer
The dragon is representative of the ancient and mystical, but with different specifics based on the origin of the lore. In Chinese and other east Asian traditions, the dragon has been associated with power, strength, and good luck as well as having a connection to bodies of water. In European traditions, the dragon has represented mystical powers and a creature to be conquered or obstacle to be overcome.
Source: Instagram @deadhead_tattoo
The phoenix, which bursts into flames and rises again from it’s ashes, has long been a symbol for rebirth, renewal, or resurrection. A phoenix tends to mean a fresh start.
Know someone thinking about getting new ink? Don’t forget to SHARE this article with them to give them a little inspiration!
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