Cross Tattoos

From LoveToKnow Tattoos

Cross Tattoos

Few body art designs hold as much symbolism as cross tattoos. With one look you may immediately assume the cross tattoo is a symbol of Christianity; and indeed you may be right. The cross as a symbol actually pre-dates the life of Jesus Christ and many actually hail from more ancient Pagan religions. Gods that had been worshiped for thousands of years before Christianity became a force in the world were represented by some form of the cross and cross tattoos are almost as old as the symbolic crosses themselves.

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The cross has been used as a symbol in ancient Greek and Egyptian cultures, as well as by the Aztecs, whose culture of human sacrifice was actually quite shocking. Even the Norse God Thor's hammer is thought to be represented by the Tau cross. And, even the Hebrew letter Tau (or Tav) is said to be a form of the cross. The writings of ninteenth century occultist Aleister Crowley teach that the cross and the Tau are at once symbols of power and the human phallus. Cross symbolism can be found in numerous civilizations, and cultures across a great many centuries.

Popularity of the Cross Tattoo

So why are cross tattoos so popular? Many people getting their first tat tend to choose crosses for their initial foray into body art. It's a fairly safe design that is usually deemed socially acceptable, where other tattoo designs may not be as welcome. The simple cross can also be incorporated into some not so simple designs. Celtic crosses can be masterpieces of body art, and even the most simple cross can be embellished with other design elements such as hearts, flowers, angel wings, and nearly anything else you can think of.

Like religion itself, the cross holds whatever symbolism an individual intends it to, and everyone interprets it's meaning in his or her own way. One person may get a tattoo of a cross because of deeply held religious beliefs while another just thinks it "looks cool."

Christian Cross Designs

The Celtic Cross

These cross tattoos are a marvel of design. In their simplest form, they look like the Christian cross with a circle imposed around the area where the beams intersect. However, Celtic cross designs are often embellished by using a pattern of knots that have no beginning or end. These knots are believed to symbolize the intersecting of the corporeal and spiritual worlds, and the continuous nature of life itself. Bring the knot and the cross together, and you get some very heavy symbolism.

The Latin Cross

This is the standard cross design with one tall beam intersected by a slightly smaller beam about one third of the way down from the top. This design is obviously the most closely associated with Christianity, although more ornate crosses of the same dimensions and sometimes combined with the Sacred Heart are instantly identified with Catholicism.

The Latin pattern is a safe choice for first timers who are not sure just how much of the needle they will be able to stand. Once they have made it through the inking this design, it is a simple matter to come back and build upon the original tattoo by adding other designs. Hanging a crown of thorns from the top beam is highly symbolic of Christ. Others may choose to memorialize a deceased loved one by adding their name and date of death. Combining the Latin cross with the shamrock has been a long time favorite of the Irish, while others may choose to combine their cross tattoo with a dove, symbolizing peace.

St. Andrew's Cross

St. Andrew's Cross is shaped like an X instead of the typical T design of most crosses. St. Peter, believing himself unworthy to die in the same manner as his Lord, was crucified upside down. Similarly, St. Andrew also held the same belief, and so we have his cross passed down through history too.

Non-Christian Designs

The Ankh

The Ankh is rooted deep in Egyptian culture. Picture the Latin cross, but bend the top portion around into a loop, and you have the Key of Life as the Ankh was called by the ancient Egyptians. They believed the key was used by the Gods of the underworld to awaken those who had crossed the river of death, and usher them into the afterlife. The Ankh also has been used as a sign for infinity and fertility. It is interesting to note that the Ankh was closely related to Horus in Egyptian mythology; his tale of death and rebirth clearly paralells the story of Christ's death and resurrection.

The Gothic Cross

This gothic design emulates the German style of heavily ornate pieces fashioned from wrought iron. As a symbol of the Gothic lifestyle, Gothic crosses also symbolize all that is dark and merry. Poet Edgar Allan Poe is largely credited with inspiring the Gothic lifestyle with his tales of horror and suspense. Later, author Anne Rice made being one of the undead chic with her tales of the Vampire Lestat, and Goths around the world found a whole new source of inspiration. Today's gothic cross tattoos may incorporate all manner of imagry, usually quite dark and often disturbing. Crosses wrapped in barbed wire are common, as are crosses that are actually daggers; often with a single drop of crimson at the tip.

Somewhere in Between

The Tau

The Tau manages to stretch across the boundaries between the Christian, Jewish and Pagan worlds. This cross looks like a capital letter T, not intersecting as most crosses do. It has been used as the symbol of the Pagan God Tamuzz, and is also believed to be the Hammer of Thor. The Tau is thought to be the inspiration for the Latin cross. In the Hebrew alphabet the Tau is equivelent to the letter T, but is considered one of the most powerful letters by Kabbalists who teach that each letter of the Hebrew alphabet has special correspondances with numbers and symbology.

Conclusion

These are just a few of the many crosses represented throughout the world. With so much symbolism and variety of design, is it any wonder that cross tattoos are one of the most popular designs in tattoo shops the world over?

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