Gang Tattoo Meanings and Pictures

Tattooing is a form of ritual. It is also used as a means to express who an individual is and what they stand for. Most tattoos are a very personal symbol for whoever wears them on his or her body.

Ancient Romans were known to use their tattoos as a means in identifying their slaves. Ancient Japanese would tattoo their criminals to identify the crime they had committed. Many cultures would use tattoos to show what they as a people stood for in a spiritual sense, while others would use tattoos to outcast slaves or criminals.

These cultures as well as subcultures were brought together by tattooing but were set apart by the meanings and intent of each distinct marking.

A tattoo is a permanent work of art that is created on the skin on either a visible part of the body or in a very private position. It can never be erased. In that sense, a tattoo will be with you forever. It is for this reason that both ancient as well as the more modern cultures would use tattooing on their criminals so as to purposefully keep them separate from non-tattooed people.

They were the outcasts of society. From this, tattooing would develop its darker side and slowly make its way into the world of the criminal. Prison inmates were branded or tattooed and discovered they were on common ground, forming gangs and bonds based on their own criminal status. Their tattoos would be their symbol which would identify each member of their underworld.

Earlier gangs would tattoo the same symbol on each member, but modern day gang members will tattoo their individual interpretations of their gang's symbols.

A gang tattoo marks someone as being a part of either a prison gang or a street gang. It symbolizes proud membership. It represents allegiance to a group that is deeply personal. A gang tattoo also represents the beliefs of the wearer.

Sometimes a gang tattoo will record an act of murder or violence. Each gang will have their own set of markings and tattoos. Some symbols will cross the boundary of a gang. An example would be a teardrop beneath one eye. This could represent a loved one's death or murder.

Gang tattoos can be heavily detailed and represent a gang affiliation as well as the member as an individual. They generally represent gang names and accomplishments or a memorial to a loved one, cultural and religious ties, and even their children's names.

A common gang tattoo is dots between the thumb and forefinger which will indicate their time spent behind bars. There are also certain designs that will have coded meanings. Below are a few tattoos and an explanation of their special significance:

• Barbed wire that is tattooed across a forehead signifies life imprisonment with no chance of parole.

• A cat means that the person lives their life as a thief.

• Churches and fortresses will often be tattooed on a hand, the back, or chest. Each tower or spire represents the number of years in incarceration.

• Tombstones represent time that has been lost.

A gang tattoo is not worn to be fashionable or cool. It goes beyond that. It is a hard earned emblem that is proudly worn to show the harsh reality of a member's everyday life.

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.

Gargoyle Tattoo Meanings and Photos

A gargoyle tattoo has become an increasingly popular request among tattoo enthusiasts. A tattoo artist will generally use a black ink with an intricate shading technique to create this monotone piece of art.

Gargoyles are architectural stone carvings resembling a mythological creature or even a human form. In Medieval times they helped in warding off evil spirits and protected the buildings they resided on. Celtic styles incorporated Green Men - human heads with branches and foliage - to be a sign of divinity. Gothic cathedrals used stone gargoyles as a water spout to direct water away from the sacred building.

Sometimes, a gargoyle tattoo depicts a combination of animals. These mythological creatures were called 'chimera'. The griffin is another well known tattoo that merges the features of an eagle's wing and a lion's head together that represents dignity and nobility.

Human skulls are also sometimes used within gargoyle tattoos and are believed to protect the wearer from an early death. Therefore, a person who chooses to wear a tattoo does not merely do so as a fashion statement but because they believe in traditional values.

Some gargoyles are depicted as a demonic creature with talons, tails and horns and elongated ears. Gargoyle tattoos can also be a combination of ram, boar and felines.

A gargoyle tattoo is usually done in Gothic styles in darker shades of brown, gray or black. It is normally posed in a hunched stance. They are often depicted with a scary face with fangs and unfriendly temperament sitting alone atop tombstones, castles or churches.

Quite a few gargoyle tattoos will blend gargoyles from different cultures and eras, to form a truly unique design. These tattoos could depict a Japanese gargoyle sitting alongside a Celtic gargoyle as well as a European gargoyle, creating a disconcerting yet great effect.

Gargoyle tattoos might appear to be grotesque and scary in their appearance but their true nature is quite the opposite.

Gothic Tattoo Meanings And Pictures

Gothic tattoos have a meaning that is contrary to the general impression that most people have about these type of tattoos. The "Goth look" is often associated with the occult due to the color of the clothes that are worn as well as the practice of dying the hair black and wearing black makeup. However, Gothic mentality is not a fascination with death or the occult. Goths are quite artistic and creative and have a strong intellectual focus.

Many Goth tattoos are a reflection of this creativity. The tattoos are typically quite imaginative and varied. Their interest in religious imagery is reflected in the tattoos that are chosen as well. This may include angels, rosary beads and crosses. Since a fascination with medieval times is also an interest of the Goth culture, the images may include mythological characters such as demons, dragons, fairies and vampires.

Horror movies are a main influence for Goths and this is another source of subject matter for the tattoos they choose. The Emergence of Goth from the year 1979 to 1983 are associated with the beginning of the Goth movement, as we know it today. It is believed to be a result of the British punk scene. This era was considered to be partially responsible for the development of the Goth culture. It was a time when conservatism ruled and the economy was in a recession. The accepted behavior was to avoid anything disturbing and focus on being happy.

Goth was even more visible in the 1990s with the advent of movies (The Crow) and bands (Nine Inch Nails) that further supported the culture. It even became popular in shopping malls with the emergence of stores such as Hot Topics, which have become a fixture in these malls. The Goth look goes through cycles. It will be the rage of all the designers for a couple of years and then will fade until it becomes a fashion trend again. However, Gothic tattoos are truly a lasting method of self-expression.

Gothic tattoos have survived the cycles of trending and fading and are still very much in style. There are many subjects that are used for creating the tattoo designs depending on the interpretation of each individual as to what the Gothic meaning is to them. The use of skulls is one and tribal tattoos are often considered to be partially Gothic. An open dagger or a snake interwoven with vines that is tattooed on the arms is one type of tattoo that is considered Gothic.

The colors are typically black and may contain some red and white/grey ink. A fairy with dark hair and bat wings is another choice that is seen often in Gothic tattoos.

The lettering used for the tattoos is distinctive as well. The fonts and lettering are known as Old English tattoo lettering. They originated from the Old English language that was used from approximately 1150 to 1500 A.D. The lettering has flourishes and ornamentation that are associated with calligraphy. The intent is to make the lettering stand out and the font is known as blackletter.

Society often decides what is acceptable and what is not. However you feel about Gothic tattoos, they are definitely interesting.

Greek Mythology Tattoo Meanings And Pictures

When Greek mythology is used for tattoos this is just as much of a form of expression as the tattoos themselves. This is a popular choice partially due to the fascination that surrounds Greek mythology. Gods, goddesses, and the stories that are told about them have an appeal that continues to intrigue the minds of tattoo enthusiasts.

Meanings of Tattoos are more often the Reason for their Choice.

The meaning associated with Greek gods and goddesses is another reason they are chosen. The God of Music is Apollo and this design is often chosen by those for whom music is an integral part of their life. This has a special meaning for the music lover. The King of the Dead is Hades and this Greek mythological character is one that is chosen by individuals that believe they are almost invincible. Aphrodite is the Goddess of Love and this is a tattoo symbol that women often choose.

The choice of Greek mythology tattoos is not just the gods and goddesses. Psyche, which means soul or spirit, is an ancient Greek word for butterfly. The butterflies in Greek mythology are linked to the souls of humans. They were considered the souls of those who had passed, and when a butterfly was seen flying in the sky, the soul was being taken to the heavens.

The scorpion, which many choose for tattoos, is a symbol of revenge in Greek mythology. On the other hand, the meaning can be strength and power. Thus, many tattoo subjects are chosen for a meaning that may be totally different in Greek mythology. Placement of this tattoo also has a meaning. Men tend to get them on the arms - a part of the body that is muscular - as a representation of strength. Women, choose the stomach, ankle or pelvic area as a representation of being strong yet feminine.

One of the most popular tattoo subjects for women is the rose. It is often gotten in memory of someone who has passed or as a symbol of something momentous that has occurred in the life of the person choosing the design of a rose flower for a tattoo. Greek mythology contends the rose was given its name by Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love.

Dragons are found in Greek mythology as guardians and the word actually comes from the Greek word drakon. This means snakes or serpent. Dragons are another popular subject for tattoos.

The Greek key is another popular tattoo design that is often chosen. The design represents Theseus, who according to legend was the king of Athens.

The angel is another subject when it comes to tattoos for the female sex. It may be chosen for a variety of reasons, but the word is from the Greek word 'angelos' and the meaning is 'messenger'. Angels were messengers between the gods and humans. Angel wings were often seen on gods and according to many mythological tales, humans could fly as well. One thing that is not widely known is the tattoo was actually a form of punishment in ancient Greece.

Many Greek mythological tattoos today are used to tell a story and they are very colorful. They are used as a personal expression connecting the person and the mythological character chosen for the tattoo.