Religious tattoos are found everywhere. They occupy a special niche in the world of drawings on the body. This type of tattoo is considered one of the most popular and makes up a significant part of the total volume of tattoos.
The origin of religious tattoo
According to sources, ritual tattooing originated in Palestine. Christianity did not accept body art and forbade tattoos to damage the body given by God. However, history shows that even bans did not lead to their extinction. Religious tattoos were the only evidence of their stay in Jerusalem at that time. Pilgrims used tattoos as evidence of visiting the temple of the Lord. Right at the city walls sat people making commemorative drawings on the body.
Most of the pilgrims received a cross tattoo. The work was done in haste, roughly and often ineptly. But some were more fortunate, and on their body appeared the Mother of God, the Jesus tattoo, the image of the face of St. Peter.
By the way, Muslim pilgrims also decorated their bodies with tattoos. When visiting the Medina or Mecca, religious tattoos symbolizing faith in Allah were applied to their bodies.
Christian tattoos
The numerous symbols of Christianity are ahead of the popularity of tattoos of other religions. The most popular topic, of course, is the crucifixion and the Orthodox cross. Second place is the image of the mother of God with the baby Jesus. On the third are saints and angels. Of course, in order to get an exact similarity, to create a beautiful and clear picture, you should spend a lot of time and effort. If you decide on a religious tattoo, try to find an experienced master with practical and artistic abilities.
Experts say that religious tattoos are most suitable for the stronger sex. To stylize the tough themes of Christianity under the weaker sex is quite problematic. But there are girls who “wear” a religious tattoo on their bodies and are proud of it. Many want to emphasize religious affiliation, love of God, sacrifice, and purification.
Ancient religions
Currently, antique tattoos are becoming very popular. Religious themes can be traced in Celtic patterns, and in Egyptian hieroglyphs, and in the images of the Aztecs, and in ancient Babylonian symbols.
The most common are the Celtic patterns and symbolic signs of the ancient druids, which symbolize the unity of the soul and nature, self-sacrifice, these or those features, the hidden possibilities of man.
As for the meaning that religious tattoos wear, the owner puts it into the drawing independently. Similar drawings in different people can have completely different meanings. The only aspect that tattoo artists advise not to forget is the thoughtfulness of the drawing. Agree, a tattoo in the form of an Orthodox icon can not side by side with the symbols of the Aztecs, and the Celtic pattern with a Muslim theme. Maybe visually the pictures will be combined, look rich and bright, but the disharmony of the theme will be ensured.