While every tattoo has some sort of symbolism behind it, the swallow tattoo has become a staple in the ink culture, and swallow tattoo meanings have been adapted as the world changes so that generation after generation can keep appreciating this simple sailor tattoo. It has a long history and has appealed to a lot of different personality types and lifestyles, making it very versatile.
History of Swallow Tattoo
Swallow tattoos have been around since the days when shipping was accomplished with actual ships and every journey was a direct risk to every sailor’s life. The tattoo is believed to have stemmed from the swallows’ behavior and patterns, which sailors used as a guide, much like the North Star. Sailors had noticed that swallows tended to congregate around shores and civilization, so if they began to see them in the sky while they were out at sea they knew that land wasn’t far. Sailors began to view the swallow as a sort of “welcome home” and good luck charm.
We all know that tribal tattoos are enjoying a resurgence in popularity and that demand for them is increasing almost daily, with the tribal dragonfly tattoo gaining in popularity faster than most other designs, but it is always worth reminding newcomers to the wonderful world of tattoo art, that tribal tattoos are permanent fixtures and therefore need careful consideration before committing to any design.
Apart from on people born under the zodiac sign of Scorpio, scorpion tribal tattoos might seem an unusual choice of design. What we all know about these creatures is that they are foreboding predators with a nasty sting in their tails, and those born under their zodiac sign are usually people one should be careful not to cross! But the symbolic significance of the scorpion goes much deeper than that and there are some cultures who embrace scorpion tattoos and wear them with great pride.
In the artistic world of tattoo-art, there can be no more beautiful designs than phoenix bird tattoos. These mythical, gloriously-coloured birds, which were unable to reproduce biologically, were said to build their own funeral pyres, in the shape of nests, at the end of their long lives. They would then set fire to themselves until they were reduced to mere ashes.
