Deciphering tattoos: What various symbols signify

Deciphering tattoos: What various symbols signify
Article by: SlingerVille Staff
August 06, 2012

Tattoo symbols can have various meanings. One may think that a teardrop automatically signifies murder, when a teardrop can also signify sorrow. One image can say multiple things.

Tattoos today can be more than what type of person you are, and more about expression of self-worth and set goals. This can make interpretation of a tattoo much more difficult.

Milan Sharma, writer for The EconomicTimes.Indiatimes.com, has shared what a few symbols can signify:

A TEARDROP

It signifies grief, or sorrow. But when it's etched on to your skin, it stands for a term in prison or of being an outcast - in some street cultures, it stands for an open will to kill. Last month, cops in the UK tracked down the killer of an Indian student, Anuj Bidve, after artists at a tattoo parlor alerted police of someone who just had a teardrop done on his face.

People ink the teardrop motif mostly in memory of a departed friend/lover. A completely colored-in tear could mean the friend died of natural causes while hollow ones may mean they were murdered. The wearer may later shade it in signifying that they avenged the said murder!

ANGELS

Probably the most common among tattoos. Denotes guardianship or protection. A tattoo of an angel sheltering children or holding them in their arms may represent someone who escaped a fatal accident.

Guardian angels, on the other hand, are depicted as fierce and strong (male angels), either with a harp or a sword, which means the wearer seeks protection from evil.

KEY/LOCK

The tattoo of a key strung along with a ribbon next to a lock signifies two things: Being locked away or freedom. It may also mean the person has a secret, which s/he needs to guard or s/he is someone's guardian and woes to protect him/her forever.

A popular tattoo design is of a heart with a keyhole, symbolising the old adage 'only one has to key to my heart'. Sometimes, the lock and the key are tattooed in two different places, signifying that the wearer is in search of that special someone who holds the key to his/her heart.

UNICORNS

The mythical one-horned beast too is a popular motif just like its imaginary cousin Phoenix of the Ash fame. It is seen as an emblem of purity. On a woman, it can emphasize her virginity or that she wants to stay that way until she finds the right man.

On a male, it may mean that he prefers a virgin bride and is loyal to Catholic beliefs (against pre-marital sex). Unicorns also signify freedom since in the 15th century, it was drawn with a lion's tail and goat's hooves, and this represents 'Free Will'. A broken chain wrapped around it stands for the power to break free and remain free forever.

SPIDERS

Classified as a gang-centric symbol, the tattoo of a spider's web on the elbow or neck or knee was used to indicate that one has been to prison. This comes from the notion that a spider's web catches and imprisons.

Women generally ink up the Black Widow, a female spider that kills its mate, drawing attention to the fact that they are seductive, manipulative, mysterious, and lurid, much like a Black Widow.

FIRE

Flames and fire stand for a strange dichotomy. They can represent power, passion and intensity. A tattoo of a burning candle symbolizes wisdom and hope. It could also mean havoc, pain and destruction. The meaning is amplified when added to another symbol like a burning body or skulls, which mostly invite negative connotations.

ANT LINE

Running from hand to neck, this wacky tattoo could usually be spotted near the shoulder or the collarbone. It symbolizes a unidirectional pathway - strong focus or absolute dedication to achieve one's goal. Ants also signify strength, since they are known to lift 10 times their body weight, and are rumored to be generally hardworking.

SKULL

A sign of death and harbinger of bad luck. But contrary to its image, a skull can also be a lucky charm. Some symbols represent the fleeting nature or fickleness of life.

Rose designs are also frequently tattooed with skulls to represent the contrast between life and death or beauty and decay. For some, skull tattoos also represent eternity—the body turns to ashes but the soul moves on.

ANCHOR

Who can forget the spinach-munching Popeye and the very-affable Johnny Bravo who stand as brand ambassadors for an anchor tattoo? It was popular in the '90s era of the 'macho man'.

Its original purpose was to help distinguish a sailor's body from those of the also drowned. Today, an anchor tattooed on the feet signifies stability or the need for stability in life, relationships, or career.

FLOWERS

Stands for youth and innocence. But, some, like cherry blossoms, have underlying meanings. Since cherry blossoms have a short life span, the wearer may want to say that life is short and one must live it to the fullest.

The Samurai culture of Japan holds cherry blossom (Sakura) in high regard since Samurais have relatively short life spans. They believed the flower represented drops of blood. In China, it is associated with female beauty, dominance & feminine sexuality.

Source: http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-08-04/news/33035498_1_tattoo-parlour-guardian-angels-teardrop

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