Tribal Cross Tattoos

Many people choose to get religious symbols, such as the ever popular tribal cross tattoo, tattooed on their body as representations of their faith.

The Cross

A cross is, quite simply, a pair of lines that intersect each other at a 90º angle. These lines can be of equal length (forming a plus sign) or of varying lengths, as in the typical Christian cross. Crosses, in all their forms, have been used since ancient times as designations of various religions and other societies - although the most well known of these is the Christian variation.

Christian Crosses

There are many different versions of the cross that have been seen throughout history. The cross that most people picture when they are imagining a Christian cross is actually known as the Latin Cross, or crux ordinaria. The four points on the cross are known as the cardinal points, and are used to depict the world separated into four elements. It is also said that the intersecting lines represent the combination of divinity and world.

Cross History

Celtic cross images.

The English word cross was not used until roughly the 10th century, when it was used as the term for the instrument of Christ's death. The original English term was rood. There are several crosses that predate the Christian cross, including the Ankh, which was an ancient Egyptian symbol, and the Greek cross.

The Celtic cross is another ancient variant of the cross, and there is some debate as to whether it is a true Christian symbol since it dates back to far before the spread of Christianity to the British Isles. A popular version of the cross, the Celtic cross is the most common variant seen in tattoos today.

Tribal Cross Tattoos Explained

Tribal cross tattoos combine the cross tattoo with the imagery of tribal art. Tribal tattoos are a style of tat that uses heavy black lines and angled, sharp images in emulation of a traditional tribal tattoo. This tribal ink was originally inspired by tats done by the Maori tribe, as well as other Polynesian tribes. Today, most of the tribal artwork we see is not authentic to any specific tribe, but is stylized. Including the Christian cross in this imagery serves to combine two popular tattoos and to give an updated look to this religious icon.

Cross Tattoo Inspiration

Tribal cross tattoos can be seen on both men and women, anyone who wants to show off their Christian ideals by marking their body. Many men choose to have their cross tattoos placed on their upper arm or forearm, while women get their tattoos in many different places, such as the wrist or ankle.

Here are some good sources for finding tribal style crosses:

• BullseyeTattoos.com offers several different styles of tribal inspired cross tats, some with a decidedly gothic feel, and others that are more simple and clean.
• FreeTattooDesigns.org has a small selection of cross and tribal designs for inspiration
• TattooInk also shows some different styles of cross tattoos, including tribals.

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