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History of Celtic Tattoos
Posted by: | CommentsTattoos have been important to many cultures over human history. Try to picture the sight of men covered in intricate tattoo patterns running and screaming at you in battle. That is what you would have seen thousands of years ago in a battle with Celtic warriors. The Celts used tattoos as a type of battle intimidation. They considered war the most important and honorable moment of their lives. They battled shirtless, and sometimes took their long hair and shaped it into spikes on their head or like the mane of a horse. (Venefica, 2010) Although the Celtic warriors had some intimidating tricks up their sleeves – or lack thereof (they fought naked) – the tattoo became one of their most important battle techniques. Although seeing their hair up in spikes must have been pretty intimidating as well . . .
The Celts used a plant called the Woad (Isatis tinctoria) to make their tattoos because it was wonderful for use as a blue dye. The leaves of the plant had to be picked and dried. In a method similar to making tea, they would heat the leaves in hot water to extract the dye. It was then cooked until it formed a paste that could be applied with something like a needle underneath the skin. (Venefica, 2010) The Celts were sometimes called Picts in areas of ancient Britain which means “painted ones” in Latin because of their use of tattoos. There were also other groups in Europe that used similar tattoos such as the Huns, Scythians, and the people of the Steppes. (Orvin, 1985)
There is still great debate about whether or not the Celts painted or tattooed themselves. More than likely, the Celts did use tattoos because it is an ancient art and ancient bodies found close to the Celtic time period were heavily tattooed. The Celts considered the Tree of Life to be one of their most important and sacred symbols. It was believed to symbolize wisdom and the otherworld, often thought to have been an oak tree because they were considered sacred. Celtic knot tattoos were also a favorite, they have loops that do not end – showing that the cycle of life and death never end. Celtic animal designs were very important in war and Roman historians mention the animal figures drawn on Celtic warriors in their texts. (Clanne Preachin, 2010) Celtic designs can be put together to form many interesting combinations. Sun and moon symbols, stars and skulls, etc., or just about any combination you think of can be used to represent a person’s feelings and beliefs. Not to mention, they look great on any part of the body.
The tattoo designs associated with the Celts today mostly come from Irish illuminated manuscripts. Celtic art is recognizable with its black color, knots, patterns with very intricate linework, and zoomorphism (animals). The Celtic cross has become very popular as well. Many people want to show their pride in their Celtic heritage, such as the Welsh and Irish, by getting a Celtic tattoo. The important thing to remember is that these designs are intricate and ornate and finding the right artist is essential. The designs are not simple and an experienced tattoo artist will be very necessary to get the proper effect.
Works Cited
Clanne Preachin. (2010). Retrieved january 14, 2010, from The Painted People: http://www.preachain.org/index.php?module=article&view=11
Orvin, L. (1985). House barra. Retrieved January 14, 2010, from Oh Woad is me!: http://housebarra.com/EP/ep04/10woad.html
United and kingdom and worldwide law. (2009). legends and chronicles. Retrieved january 14, 2010, from celtic warriors: http://www.legendsandchronicles.com/celtic-warriors/
Venefica, A. (2010). Whats your sign. Retrieved January 14, 2010, from The doorway to symbolism: http://www.whats-your-sign.com/celtic-tattoos.html
Overview of Kanji Tattoos
Posted by: | CommentsKanji tattoos are very popular tattoo styles today that have their basis in Japanese writing and calligraphy. The actual writing style is called Kanji and it has as long a history as does the history of Japanese tattoo artistry itself. The origin of Japanese Kanji writing begins in China. Thousands of years ago, the Japanese had no formal writing system and they adopted the system used in China at the time.(Takase, 2005) To make it their own system, they began to modify it. The system became known as Kana which resulted in a combination of two different Japanese alphabets. These two alphabets are syllabic and are called hiragana and katakana. The third “alphabet” is called Kanji and it is based on ideograms which actually represent ideas. (Jennings, 1999)
The characters of Kanji can stand alone and have their very own distinct meaning or be used in combination with other symbols to illicit other meanings. Many times the message from a Kanji symbol is not obvious and can be misconstrued by someone who is not familiar enough with the language. (japanese-name-translation.com, 2009) The symbols from Kanji are like looking at a picture, and, just like people see different things in a picture, a Kanji symbol can be interpreted in different ways. Sometimes the symbol will stand for a sound, depending on how and where it is written. (japanese-name-translation.com, 2009) So, basically, it can be very difficult to transfer something you want to say in English directly into a Kanji tattoo. For instance, you want your new Kanji tattoo to say “Big Daddy”. Everybody you know sees your tattoo and asks you what does it mean? You reply “Big Daddy” and you will get a laugh or agreement depending on how well they know you. Then, of course, you go to Japan or you meet someone from Japan and they read your tattoo and to them it says “large father”. It just will not translate the way you want it to. (japanese-name-translation.com, 2009)
This is basically the biggest problem for people that want to get a Kanji tattoo. The Kanji characters themselves are refined and exotic but there are very many ways to pronounce and interpret each unique character. There is also the fact that there are almost two thousand different Kanji characters used today which can make translations very difficult.(Mcbennet, 1999)
Some people believe that the characters have a spiritual meaning – that they can even effect your mood or bring you luck. There are characters often used to symbolize things like strength, luck, honor, etc. (Takase, 2005) Make sure that you have the right characters when deciding to have a Kanji tattoo because as we all know that they are permanent. It can be very frustrating when you end up with a Kanji tattoo that does not contain the message you wanted to convey.
It is not easy to translate Japanese symbols directly from English into Kanji. Even though many people know that the Kanji figures are hard to translate, they still continue to get the tattoo, finding out later it does not have the meaning that they intended. When deciding what tattoo to get, it might be more accurate to use Kanji symbols that have an established meaning like love or dragons or Bishidou (the way of the warrior). Trying to have your name spelled is probably not going to be as accurate as you would like and it might have more of a meaning than you bargained for. (japanese-name-translation.com, 2009)
Getting a tattoo is about expressing yourself. The creation of your Kanji tattoo should be a meeting of the minds between you and the artist who is inking your tattoo. Japanese Calligraphy needs exact translations and if you have some reservations before getting started, be sure to start with an artist who has a reputable catalog. This will require some research on your part. Ask the artist where they got their translations and find out when and where the translations were done as well as who was the translator. Look for comments or references that are available about the artist. Often, the tattoo artist might be insulted or give you a hard time for questioning them, but it is your body and your tattoo so BE SURE. When you find the artist who is willing to help you, and they have helped you understand the symbols you want, then you have probably found the right place to get your tattoo inked.
Works Cited
‘japanese-name-translation.com’, I. S. (2009). INT.COM. Retrieved November 11, 2009, from Japanese Caliigraphy: japanese-name-translation.com/site2/kanji_tattoos_article.html
Jennings, C. (1999, September). The Kanji Site. Retrieved November 11, 2009, from The Kanji Site: kanjisite.com/html/about/site.html
Mcbennet, M. (1999). Kanji Characters. Retrieved November 11, 2009, from Japan Zone: japan-zone.com/new/kanji.shtml
Takase, E. (2005). Takase.com. Retrieved november 11, 2009, from Custom Japanese Caliigraphy: takase.com/AboutUs.htm
Tattoos of the Zodiac Sign Aries
Posted by: | CommentsIf you decide to get a tattoo of the zodiac sign Aries you may be interested in learning more about the symbolism associated with that sign.
Aries is the Ram, sometimes shown running forwards but looking backwards, which suggests its impetuous movement into the New Year while still looking backwards towards the old year.
The Aries glyph represents a ram’s horns or the uprising force of a water spring.
The Aries symbol sometimes indicates the beginning of work, i.e., the Spring Equinox, when nature’s creativity is at its greatest.
From an anatomical perspective the symbol is associated with the head. Aries is ruled by Mars, its element is cardinal fire, and its gemstone is a diamond.
The Aries symbol is associated with the Egyptian gods Osiris, Amun, and Khnum and with the Greek goddess Minerva.
Those sporting Arian tattoo symbols should know that the symbol represents enthusiasm, sporting, independence, and ambition.
Gemini Zodiac Tattoos
Posted by: | CommentsIf your astrological sign is a Gemini you may consider getting a Gemini zodiac tattoo.
The Gemini symbol represents the twins. It also represents the number II in Roman numerals or a gate (the sun enters the gateway of the summer solstice at the end of Gemini).
Those who are born under the symbol of Gemini are dualistic as well as communicative, intellectual, and changeable. Gemini is ruled by Mercury, while its element is mutable air. It’s gemstone is Agate. It is related to the arms, hands, and lungs. The Gemini symbol is also connected with the Elder Horus.
A Gemini tattoo symbol represents twin stars and is associated with the dualism of life. In India, the Gemini constellation is linked with the Vedic Mother goddess Aditi, who supports the sky. Therefore, those with Gemini tattoos can say that their symbol is connected with the dawn and the light of the eastern sky.
History of Tattoos: Tattoos and the Catholic Church
Posted by: | CommentsThe Catholic missionaries who followed in the wake of the explorers and conquerors considered it their sacred duty to convert the populations of the new territories to Christianity and “civilize” them. Like cannibalism and human sacrifice, tattooing was regarded as barbaric and heathen. Excessive violence and the devastating effects of European diseases resulted in entire tribes and their cultures disappearing. Ironically, survivors of this assault were tattooed and branded with marks of ownership, and transported to Caribbean sugar plantations or South American silver mines. The indigenous peoples of the Amazon put up the most resistance to foreign influences, and their tattooing culture endured the onslaught.
From the eighteenth century, the Catholic Church’s role in the disappearance of old traditions diminished, and in South America it even supported the local population. Bishops governed regions with special rules related to legal and social conditions.
The role of the Catholic Church was more conservative in the South Pacific. Additionally, Western influence increased the inhabitant’s awareness of alternative value systems. Younger islanders began resisting the painful tattooing procedure because it appeared to only be practiced locally, not internationally. On the islands with church mission stations that church was more influential in bringing about the decline in tattoos however most of the decline came from within.
As is typical of many Western and European attempts to “change” those unlike them, the missionaries tried to convince native women not to tattoo their bodies because “European women would never do such a thing.” Fortunately, the women were not to be so easily swayed; they felt that tattoos were necessary, even if limited to the face as a means of countering the signs of aging. In some instances, they informed the missionaries that their practices were the latest fashion, a statement that even Darwin admitted would have never been questioned if said in Paris! In Maori tattoos began symbolizing one’s individualism and independence. In some areas tattooed boys refused to attend school with non-tattooed boys, who were considered cowards.
By the time Darwin began his global travels tattoes were on the decline. As he noted, only older Tahitians had the traditional sock tattoo that was widespread at the time of the first contacts with the Europeans a century earlier. The most striking example of this was in 1812, when the explorer Von Langsdorff, visiting the Aleutian Islands, became the last Westerner to observe the local tattooing culture in that area.
Interestingly enough, the act of inserting pigment into the skin by pricking it was known as the “Polynesian Technique.” In the 1700′s and 1800′s little was written about the deep significance of tattooes and their meaning, in part due to the communication barriers that existed between Europeans and Pacific Islanders. Additionally, not all tattoo-related information obtained from the islanders was reliable; they tended to exaggerate some of their customs in order to impress or frighten the explorers.
Ironically, despite the efforts (and success) of many of the Catholic Church missionaries, it was the European mariners that helped spread the popularity of tattoos. They often returned home with tattoos and regaled audiences with their tales of bravery and endurance during the tattoo application process!
Popular Free Tattoo Patterns: The Rose
Posted by: | CommentsA fairly complex symbol, it is linked to both heavenly perfection and earthly passion. The symbol represents Time and Eternity and Fertility and Virginity.
The rose symbolizes:
- perfection
- completion
- the mystery of life
- the heart center of life
- the unknown
- beauty
- grace
- happiness
- passion
- sensuality and seduction
In the symbolism of the heart the rose occupies the central point of the cross, the point of unity. As the flower of femininity it represents love, life, fertility, beauty, verginity, and creation. The thorns of the rose represent pain, blood, and martyrdom. The rose also represents eternal life and eternal Spring.
The different rose colors also have meaning:
Gold/yellow rose: perfection
Red rose: desire, passion, beauty, consummation, joy, charity
White rose: innocence, virginity, spiritual unfolding, charm
Red & white rose together: the union of fire and water, the union of opposites
Blue rose: unattainable, the impossible
The rosette and the Gothic rose also have wheel symbolism, denoting the unfolding of power, making the rose an emblematic equivalent (in Western culture) of the Asian Lotus. A secondary meaning of the rose is discretion.
Rose Symbolism & Mythology
Egyptian: roses were sacred to Isis because they symbolized true love free from any carnal ties.
Hebrew: the center of the rose is the sun and the petals are infinity.
Graeco-Roman: symbolizes love, joy, beauty, desire, and was an emblem of Aphrodite/Venus. Roses were brought at the Rosalia festival and scattered on graves. The Roman Emperor wore a crown of roses. The red rose was believed to grow from the blood of Adonis and was a symbol of Aurora, Helios, Dionysos and the Muses. Additionally, Cupid allegedly stopped gossip about Vanus’ indiscretions by bribing the god of silence with a rose. This led to the hanging of live roses or painting of roses above Roman council tables as a sign that conversation within the room was private or confidential.
