For centuries professional boxers have stepped into the (physical and metaphorical) bearing a number of tattoos pronouncing their strength, tenactiy, culture, and familial loyalties. For many, their tattoos were their badges of victory. While the popularity of boxing has not waned with the years, the height of our adoration seems suspended in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when...
The world was not always the neon orb it is today, illuminated around the clock by electricity; similarly, our paths are not always clear or well-lit. Just as candles once guided the soldier, scholar and elderly beggar alike through the night, they have now come represent the sacred and fragile light we each carry within us. The question is, do...
The traditional arrow tattoo is often a reverent cultural reference to the Native American tribesmen who hunted for their families' survival with the graceful bow and arrow. The arrow travels in a straight path with righteous purpose, and a traditional arrow tattoo symbolizes that focused forward movement with beauty and finesse. The arrow is one of the most poignant symbols...
Every era and region has feared and honored the dragon, from Asian warriors to medieval saints. The Chinese revered the dragon for its strength, wisdom, and protective powers, while Europeans wove it into the fabric of their most epic tales, a creature to be challenged and conquered. Regardless of where you stand, the dragon is undoubtedly a power symbol to...
Few images are as immediately recognizable as el diabolo, the devil. Whether drawn in jest or as a threatening sign of menace, the devil tattoo as we know it today has origins as ancient as they are multi-dimensional. While commonly associated with Lucifer and various religious iconology, the devil is also a nod to the folkloric figure that has spanned...
They say that if you sit down and stare into the eyes of a stranger for four minutes that you will fall in love with them. Eyes are the windows to the soul and they carry heavy symbolism along with them. Eyes are the most delicate sensory organ. And although they are physically sensitive, it is the most active sense...
For some people, the moth symbolizes an inherent nocturnal essence and may even be a harbinger of omens. Sometimes, the omen is positive, but not always. The sudden appearance of a moth can be seen as a warning or as a happy premonition, and in the case of moth tattoos, the exact meaning is up to the wearer. Traditional moth...
Few images are as visceral as the spindly spider, and few tattoo styles are as bold as those drawn in the traditional hand. When the two are fused together, the results are truly impressive, if not downright creepy. As far as subject matter goes, few are as intimidating as that of the arachnid variety. The time-honored traditional style of tattooing...
There are few animals as rich in symbolism as the crow. A spirit animal long associated with the mysteries of life and death, the crow has been revered as a totem and spirit guide since the dawn of humankind, believed to provide insight and understanding into other realms, both spirit and of the flesh. A frequent sign of good luck,...
Diamonds have long been held as well-known symbols of wealth and beauty, worn since ancient times in everything from jewelry to armor, and even encrusted on thrones and tombs. Ancient cultures around the world believed that diamonds could protect the wearer from evil forces, and bestow the strength to overcome one's greatest fears. Diamonds have similarly been linked to potency...
