Gecko Tattoo Meaning and Pictures

For many centuries, various cultures ranging from ancient Greece to tribal Polynesia have celebrated the gecko meaning. Due to the gecko's ability to quickly regrow its own tail when needed, it is said to be magical and will symbolize regrowth and luck.

The gecko tattoo is a popular lizard design which often appears in Polynesian tribal tattoos. It is believed to possess supernatural powers. Polynesians regard the gecko with both awe and fear. It is thought that if you are 'laughed' at by a green gecko it is a dreadful omen of bad fortune and illness.

The history of the gecko tattoo design and the gecko meaning can be credited to the islands of Polynesia that include Hawaii, French Polynesia, Tahiti, the Cook Islands, Tonga, Easter Island and Samoa.

Basically, there are two kinds of traditional tattoos that come from these islands. Which are the 'Enata', which is the natural design symbolizing your island of birth and origin, social level, work and life, and the 'Etua' which possesses a stronger spiritual representation.

Popular designs from Polynesia that have had a symbolic meaning include the shark, dolphin, turtle and gecko.

A tribal gecko tattoo will pay homage to distant ancestors together with the symbolism of the gecko meaning that they held true with their own beliefs. These tattoos are often bold and dark and are somewhat abstract in style, yet appear as a simplified version of an original form.

The tattoo's edges are angular and sharp and will often repeat in patterns that circle around a forearm or bicep, or is symmetrically placed on either side of the back or chest as mirrored reflections.

A gecko tattoo design can be created in brightly vibrant colors but many people still prefer the quirky abstract shapes to be done in boldly black ink.

Despite missionaries trying to eradicate the cultural traditions of this unique art all those years ago, tattoo designs from Polynesia have had a rebirth in the Western world today.

Horse Tattoo Meanings: Ideas And Pictures For Girls And Guys

Horse tattoos are a little out of the ordinary, or at least they are not quite as common as many other popular design choices, but mankind's passion for these beautiful creatures has been in existence for a very long time. Early man drew pictures of horses on the walls of caves.

There were certain tribes in ancient times that worshiped horses. The horse has been man's companion for thousands of years. In Greek mythology, Pegasus, the winged horse is known for the magical powers he possesses as well as being immortal.

Horse Tattoo Meanings

The meaning associated with horse tattoos today likely has a lot to do with the companionship they have provided to mankind over the years. Warriors of old believed the horse was their most faithful companion and would not go into battle without them. The horse is a majestic animal and can recognize their owners in addition to returning the love they receive from them.

Horse tattoos can be a symbol of faithfulness, strength and beauty. Noblemen used to keep horses in stables where they were well taken care of and bred for sports and for transportation. Owning several horses was considered to be a sign of wealth.

Passion For The Racehorse
The racehorse is another reason for horse tattoos. There are several in the world of racing today that are considered legends. Winning the prestigious races such as the Kentucky Derby assures the horse of a lifetime of ease when they are too old to race. The owners of these racehorses will sometimes get tattoos that are symbolic of their horse.

Horse Tattoo Symbolism

Often a horse tattoo will be a symbol of strength such as one carrying a warrior into battle. Celtic horses are popular choices for tattoos. Rodeo riders often choose the horse tattoo because this is their life. They love the horses and are more comfortable on a horse than anywhere.

As you can see, the basic meaning of a horse tattoo is strength and courage in recognition for carrying man and providing companionship over several thousand years.

The horse is also credited as being one of the largest providers when it came to improving civilization. They have contributed in so many ways that they are viewed as one of the most noble animals on earth.

Native Americans recognize the horse as a messenger. Believing that they relayed spiritual knowledge to humans and thereby provided wisdom, the horse is immensely popular as a tribal tattoo.

The belief held by the Native Americans was that the horse was a wild and powerful spirit but when mutual respect between man and horse was achieved, this power could be harnessed. These are just a few of the reasons the horse tattoo has become so popular.

Women Often Adore Horse Tattoos

The horse tattoo for women is a symbol of stamina, strength, stability and often chosen for the special bond they have created with horses. The preferred horse tattoo for most women is the stallion. This is due to the untamed beauty that is symbolized by the stallion.

Also, in many cases there is a strong bond between girls and horses at a very young age, as many girls wish for a pony during their adolescent years.

Tattoo Style Ideas
The typical drawings for these designs show the animal in motion, with their manes flowing as if the wind were at their back. The tattoo can be of a personal favorite horse, a favorite breed or one that simply catches the eye of the individual.

Larger designs are typically located on the back or the torso area of the individual, while the arms and shoulder area is always a popular area for these gorgeous animals to be inked.

Elephant Body Art

It is surprising how many different elephant tattoos are created around the world. In the western world elephants are long spouted grey creatures that children like to stare at in the zoo, but they have a much better reputation in other areas of the world. For example, one of the most important Gods of Hinduism is pictured with the head of an elephant. His body has human features, but it is his long elephant trunk that stands out in most images.

When you look at their history, elephants have been portrayed as powerful companions to human beings. There are references of elephants going into battle with human forces and even participating in a famous battle against Alexander the Great. The ironic aspect is that many of the elephant warriors marching into battle were captive servants, much like the many elephants that live in zoos and nature preserves today.

Perhaps the most famous captive elephants are those that travel with circus crews around the world. There is a lot of controversy over how these animals are trained, but despite this, there are many elephant tattoos portrayed with the circus image.

Many elephant tattoos are presented as realistic black and white portraits. Some show the full body of a single elephant with a lot of shading and shadowing. Others show an elephant alongside a baby elephant. One very popular image is that of a baby elephant walking behind a parent with their trunk linked with the parent's tail. Still others show herds of powerful elephants storming along together. Most of these realistic portrait tattoos are created for sentimental reasons.

Other elephant tattoos are created as characters, rather than real animals. There are childlike portrayals of baby elephants and powerful images of the Hindu Elephant God. Some almost appear to be toys because they are so brightly colored and playful in nature.

Elephants are such simple creatures, yet they touch the hearts of so many people around the world. It is amazing how many elephant tattoos are created every year. Checkout these wonderful pictures of excellent artwork.

Picture of elephant body art designed on the back.

Photo of modern depiction of Ganesha with head wear and flowers.

High quality 3D artwork featured on left shoulder and arm.

Picture of mystical elephant with four eyes and handful of money.

Snake Tattoo Pictures: Best Artwork Concepts And Ideas

The long, slithering nature of the snake makes it the perfect animal for tattoo artistry. Snake tattoos are extremely versatile and are often worked into more complex images. For instance, one popular tattoo idea is the image of a long sword with a snake wrapped around the shaft and down over the blade. Snakes are typically used for their ability to be wrapped and crossed throughout an image to add depth and detail.

Many snake designs in the tattoo world are black and grey images without a lot of detail. They are used to create substance or as a secondary element in a larger and more complex tattoo. Yet, that is not the rule. Some artists do create very detailed snake tattoos with a lot of color, intricate scales, and interesting plays on the eyes and forked tongue commonly associated with snakes.

A snake tattoo can wrap around the bicep or calf or even form a border or centerpiece for a larger tattoo. It can be colorful or all in black and grey. It can reflect the fantasy world or take on a more realistic appearance. This is definitely one of the most versatile of all tattoo genres.

Snake Tattoo Pictures:

There are thousands of snake tattoos presented around the world and new ones are created every single day. The variety of concepts is virtually limitless.

Snakes are often depicted as a part of other tattoo genres. For instance they appear in many fantasy tattoo images and are very common with pirate tattoos. They are often presented with swords and are frequently associated with the world of martial arts.

Then there are snake tattoos that play on the concept of poisonous venom. These tattoos will portray snakes standing tall with prominent fangs and a spray of venom coming from around the mouth. These are among the more realistic looking snake designs since they don't play on mythological or fantasy worlds like many other snake tattoos.

Picture of tremendous cobra artwork located on the left hip and lower back area of a girl.
Picture of snake tattoo featuring excellent color and detailing, projecting a three dimensional appearance.
Closeup photo of partially coiled cobra with long slithering tongue.

Picture of a masterful chest design including: two snakes which are interwoven with a red center-piece skull with three eyes, a perched bird, and a pair of roses.