Tattoo Cross

As a rule, a tattoo with the image of a cross immediately refers to the category of symbols of exclusively religious character. But it is not so simple, because the figure of the cross with its origins goes much deeper than Christian dogmas, and appeared in the history of mankind even before the first baptism. It will not be superfluous if you before applying such a tattoo, learn more about the symbol, and we will help you with this.

The meaning of the cross tattoo

The symbol of the cross is one of the most ancient sacred figures. The symbol and figurines in the form of a cross were found during excavations at the sites of ancient people, and these findings date back to the Neolithic era. As for the meaning of the symbol, it is assumed that our ancestors represented by such a figure the eternal struggle between good and evil, light and darkness, life and death.

Exploring the history of the symbol of the cross, we saw that in many peoples and cultures there was its own interpretation, for example:

The Scandinavians correlated the symbol of the cross with Thor’s hammer, investing in the cross the meaning of the inevitability of the incarnation of the will of the gods;
Bushmen nation considered the cross a strong talisman capable of protecting against the influence of evil spirits;
In the Native American view, the cross is the Tree of Life, which may well be applied to the interpretation of modern tattoos;
For the Chinese, the cross symbolized the stairway to heaven;
The Slavs and Buddhists transformed the symbol of the cross into a sign that is now known as the “swastika”. Our ancestors correlated the symbol of the swastika with solar power, but the attitude to this sign changed World War II. We emphasize your attention that the sign of the cross in the Slavic interpretation of the swastika is a positive sign, despite the sad practice of its use.

But speaking of the popularization of the symbol of the cross, it is worth noting the period in history, when Christianity was formed and spread. The image of the cross in any use of it (including as a tattoo) is now attributed to religion. Indeed, many believers choose as certification of their own belonging to a particular denomination tend to put on the body tattoo in the form of a cross.

Types of cross tattoos

At least to satisfy your own curiosity, you should wonder how many interpretations there are of the symbol of the cross. We will not consider all of them, but to indicate the most commonly used is worthwhile:

The Egyptian cross or in other words the ankh;
Antonian or tau-cross (much like the letter “T”);
Equilateral or Greek cross;
The Celtic or Celtic cross;
The Latin or Catholic cross;
The inverted or St. Peter’s cross.

Evaluating the external features of a particular tattoo design with a cross, it is recommended to first explore all the interpretations of this symbol in different cultures. Do not be imposed tattoo, guided solely by visual impressions of the picture.

Places to apply tattoos

Where to score a tattoo with a cross is up to you to decide. But remember that this symbol is most often perceived as a mark with religious connotations. Regarding religious tattoos, there is an unspoken rule to apply them to the upper part of the body, because placing them below the waist is considered an act of mockery.

As usual, the placement of the tattoo is influenced by the size of the sketch. For example, three-dimensional subjects are customary to apply to the back or chest. There are also some traditions – a cross on the finger with the date serves as a reminder and homage to the death of a loved one, for example. More information about the traditions of body painting is known by our tattoo-masters.