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INFINITY TATTOO - The "figure 8" lying on its side is the mathematical symbol for infinity, something very great in number, essentially unending or uncountable. It is similar to the ourborous, or snake that eats its own tail, but there is a double looping and returning motion, a double endlessness. |
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JERUSALEM CROSS TATTOO - The symbol of the Jerusalem cross has a long history in the world of Christendom and the world of tattoo. The central form has been interpreted as four Tau crosses joined together to represent the Old Testament law. The four smaller Greek crosses represent the fulfillment of the law in the four gospels. Godfrey of Bouillon, who participated in the first Crusade (1096) and became the first Latin ruler of Jerusalem, used it in his coat-of-arms. Pilgrims to the holy city have used it ever since that time in order to commemorate their journeys -- even pilgrims such as King Edward VII of England and King Frederik IX of Denmark. See the Full Color Flash. |
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KOI TATTOO - Probably surprising to many westerners is the large amount of myth surrounding these beautiful fish. It is known outside Japan as the brightly colored white, golden, orange and even calico colored fish which fascinate private collectors but which can also be found in public ponds. However, the Japanese carp or koi is one of the more popular and beautiful of Japanese tattoo symbols -- a beauty which belies its symbolic meaning. Although Chinese in origin, the carp in Japan is celebrated for its manly qualities. It is said to climb waterfalls bravely, and, if caught, it lies upon the cutting board awaiting the knife without a quiver -- not unlike a samurai (warrior) facing a sword. This theme dates back to ancient China, where a legend tells of how any koi that succeeded in climbing the falls at a point called Dragon Gate (on the Yellow River) would be transformed into a dragon. Thus it became a symbol of worldly aspiration and advancement. Eventually, the stoic fish came to be associated with so many masculine and positive qualities that it was appropriated for the annual Boys' Day Festival in Japan when colorful, streaming koi flags are traditionally displayed for each son in the family. In tattoo imagery, especially in combination with flowing water, it symbolizes much the same -- courage, the ability to attain high goals, and overcoming life's difficulties. |
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LEO TATTOO - Leo (July 23 - August 22) is the fifth sign of the Zodiac. Sometimes symbolized by an oval with a rising and then downward curving ?tail?, reminiscent of some sun symbols, the pictorial symbol for the astrological sign is also sometimes a lion. Bound together with summer (in the northern hemisphere) and associated with fire, heat, and light, people born during its astrological interval are not surprisingly given psychological traits associated with these images. Leos are seen as high-powered and strong willed, with ambition and a flair for life, although in extreme cases to the point of being aggressive, intolerant, and opinionated. See All the Zodiac Symbols. |
Tattoo design excerpts from the Tattoo Encyclopedia: A Guide to Choosing Your Tattoo
by Terisa Green and Greg James
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